Summary of Floods in the United States during 1963 · 2011. 3. 8. · UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF...

Summary of Floods in the United States during 1963

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 1830-B

Prepared in cooperation with Federal, State, and local agencies

Summary of Floods in the United States during 1963By J. O. ROSTVEDT and others

FLOODS OF 1963 IN THE UNITED STATES

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 1830-B

Prepared in cooperation with Federal, State, and local agencies

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON : 1968

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

STEWART L. UDALL, Secretary

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

William T. Pecora, Director

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Washington, D.C. 20402 - Price 60 cents (paper cover)

CONTENTS

Page Abstract ___-___--_--_---_---_--__---_--__-_____________-___-___-- BlIntroduction..____________________________________________________ 1Determination of flood stages and discharges._________________________ 4Explanation of data.-__--_--__--_---__-___-___-__-___-___-_---_-__ 5Summary of floods of 1963____.____.___.__-__--__________-_-___--_ 6

January-February in California and Nevada._____________________ 6January-February in southern Idaho, by C. A. Thomas.___________ 8January 31-February 5 in eastern Oregon, by D. D. Harris..___.____ 16February 1 at Vivian Park, Utah._______________________________ 20February 3-7 in southeastern Washington, by L. L. Hubbard.______ 21March from Alabama to West Virginia and Ohio, after Harry H.

Barnes, Jr. (1964), and William P. Cross (1964)___...________... 28Kentucky ________________________________________________ 49Ohio._____--__-____-_----__-____________-__-______-____-- 50West Virginia.____________________________________________ 52Tennessee.____--_--__--_-_-_-_____-__-____---__-_-__-__-- 53Virginia._____-_-______---_______________-_________--_-_-- 54North Carolina________---_--_____-_____-_____-___-_____-_- 55Alabama.___----_--_---__-______-___--________--____----_ 55Georgia.__-____-__-___-___-__-______________-_--____-_--- 56Flood damage..___________________________________________ 56

March 4-7 in southern Indiana________________________________ 56March-May in Hawaii, after Walter C. Vaudrey (1963) ____________ 60June 1 near San Jose, N. Mex., by G. L. Haynes, Jr.______________ 68June 4-6 in the vicinity of Cambridge, Ohio, after William P. Cross (1964). 69 June in southwestern Idaho and northeastern Nevada, by C. A.

Thomas.--_-_-____-_____-_____-__--._-----_--_-_----------- 73June in Nebraska, by H. D. Brice.________________.______---__-- 75June 15-17 in north-central Wyoming, by Kenneth B. Rennick______ 80June 16 in upper Duchesne River, Utah________________________ 84June 29 on Giant of the Valley Mountain near St. Huberts, F.Y.,

by F. Luman Robison and Charles L. O'Donnell._______________ 86July 16-17 in the vicinity of Hot Springs, Ark., after R. C. Gilstrap

and R. C. Christensen (1964)_____.__-_--_---.-.-_---_-------- 87July 23 at Hartselle, Ala___---__----._-.__--.---_------ ------ 91August 7 in Buffalo, N.Y., by F. Luman Robison._________-_-_-_- 92August 10 at Albuquerque, N. Mex., by G. L. Haynes, Jr__________ 94August 14-22 in central Arizona, by B. N. Aldridge______________ 98

August 16-17 in Glendale-Maryvale area.______________-_---_ 99August 16 and 19 in Prescott__--__-_----_------------------ 101August 22 near Payson____________________._____-_--_-----_ 104

August 20 in Fairfax County, Va., by Daniel G. Anderson___------- 106September 17 in southwestern Arizona, by B. N. Aldridge---------- 109September 17-19 in southeastern Texas.------------------------- HISeptember 23 in southeastern Washington________________---_---- 113

References cited___________________________________________________ 115Index..-__--___..__.-_-_______.____.---.____-_-_--_-------------- 117

IV CONTENTS

ILLUSTRATIONS

Page

FIGURE 1. Map of the conterminous United States and Hawaiishowing areas and months of flood occurrences in 1963_ B3

2-3. Maps of flood areas:2. January-February, in California and Nevada____ 73. January-February, in southern Idaho._________ 8

4. Graph of weather conditions for December 1962-Feb- ruary 1963 at Craters of the Moon National Monument, Idaho._-_-_---__-_----_-_____-_-________-_---___ 10

5. Map of flood area, January 31-February 5, in easternOreeon _ _ _ _ _ 16o ~~ __________ ___________ ___ ___

6. Graph of weather conditions for January 27-February 5at Baker, Oreg___________________________________ 17

7-8. Maps of flood areas:7. February 1, at Vivian Park, Utah_ _ ____-__-__ 208. February 3-7, in southeastern Washington-.--__ 22

9. Map showing area flooded in March, from Alabama toWest Virginia and Ohio__ _________________________ 29

10. Map of flood area for March from Alabama to WestVirginia and Ohio_________-____-_____-_-__----____ 30

11-12. Discharge hydrographs:11. Guyandotte River for March 1963.___________ 5212. Clinch River above Tazewell, Tenn., for March

1963_______-_____----_-___----_--_------_ 5413-16. Maps of flood areas:

13. March 4-7, in southern Indiana.,__-______-.__ 5714. March 6 and April 15, on Kauai, Hawaii------ 6015. March 6, April 15, and May 14, on Oahu,

Hawaii- _________________________________ 6116. March 13, on Maui, Hawaii.__---_---_-----__ 62

17-18. Graphs of magnitude and frequency of flood peaks:17. April 15, on South Fork Wailua River and on

Hanapepe River, Kauai, Hawaii__-----__-_- 6418. April 15, on North Fork Kaukonahua Stream

above Right Branch near Wahiawa, Oahu, Hawaii. _________________________________ 65

19-20. Maps of flood areas:19. June 1, near San Jose, N. Mex_------__--_--_- 6820. June 4-6 in vicinity of Cambridge, Ohio. ______ 70

21. Graph of accumulated rainfall at Cambridge sewageplant for June 4-5________________________________ 71

22-23. Maps of flood areas:22. June 1963, in southwestern Idaho and north

eastern Nevada.__________________________ 7423. June 5 and June 24-25, in east-central Nebraska, 76

24. Isohyetal map for storm of June 23-24 in east-centralNebraska.______________________________________ 77

CONTENTS

FIGURES 25-28. Maps of flood areas:25. June 15-17, in north-central Wyoming__ ..___ B8026. June 16, in upper Duchesne River, Utah__.__ 8427. June 29, on Giant of the Valley Mountain, I T . Y_ 8628. July 16-17, in the vicinity of Hot Springs, Ark__ 88

29. Graph of cumulative precipitation, Hot Springs, Ark__-_ 89 30-32. Maps of flood areas:

30. July 23, atHartselle, Ala-__------___-_--_--_ 9231. August 7, at Buffalo, N.Y_______...____._.. 9332. August 10, at Albuquerque, N. Mex__________ 95

33. Graph of accumulated rainfall at two locations, August 10,in northeastern Albuquerque, N. Mex_______________ 96

34-40. Maps of flood areas:34. August 16-17, in Glendale-Maryvale, Ariz____- 9935. August 16-19, in Prescott, Ariz_ _._-_.___.____ 10236. August 22, near Payson, Ariz____--.__________ 10537. August 20, in Fairfax County, Va__._-___-_.__ 10738. September 17, in southwestern Arizona___--_-_ 11039. September 17-19, in southeastern Texas.______ 11340. September 23, in southeastern Washington----- 114

TABLES

Page TABLE 1. Flood stages and discharges, January-February, in

southern Idaho____----_-_-_--_------__-_-______-_ Bll2. Flood damage, February 1963, in southern Idaho____-_- 163. Flood stages and discharges, January 31-February 5, in

eastern Oregon._________________________________ 184. Flood damage, February, in the Palouse River basir____ 23

5-11. Flood stages and discharges:5. February 3-7, in southeastern Washington. _ _ . _ 246. March, from Alabama to West Virginia and

Ohio---------_--_-----._...________ 327. March 4-7, in southern Indiana____________ 588. March 6, on Kauai and Oahu, Hawaii-..----- 639. March 13, on Maui, Hawaii.-_-_____--_-____ 63

10. April 15, on Kauai and Oahu, Hawaii. _______ 6511. May 14, on Oahu, Hawaii_________________ 67

12. Flood damage, March-May, in Hawaii_--__-_--_-____. 6713. Flood discharges, June 1, near San Jose, N. Mex_______ 69

14-19. Flood stages and discharges:14. June 4-6, in the vicinity of Cambridge, Ohio__. _ 7215. June, in southwestern Idaho and northeastern

Nevada._--___--_-_-________--__________ 7516. June, in east-central Nebraska.___.-_--_-___- 7817. June 15-17, in north-central Wyoming____---_ 8118. June 16, in upper Duchesne River, Utah__-___ 8519. June 29, on Giant of the Valley Mountain, I T . Y. 87

VI CONTENTS

Page TABLE 20. Precipitation, July 12-17, in the vicinity of Hot Springs,

Ark.....---------------------------------------- B8821. Flood stages and discharges, July 16-17, in the vicinity

of Hot Springs, Ark_____________________________ 9022. Peak discharges, July 23, at Hartselle, Ala_---------- 9123. Accumulated rainfall, August 10, in Albuquerque,

N. Mex--.--_----------------------------------- 9624. Flood stages and discharges, August 10, at Albuquerque,

N. Mex-----_---------------_------------------- 9825. Flood damage, August 16-17, in Glendale and PI oenix,

Ariz.___-_---------_--------------___.--_-_-_- 10026. Flood stages and discharges, August 19, in Pr^scott,

Ariz____---._---_-----______--__---_-_-__--_ 10327. Flood damage, August 16 and 19, in Prescott, Aris___-_ 104

28-31. Flood stages and discharges:28. August 22, near Payson, Ariz_________________ 10529. September 17, in southwestern Arizona____--_- 11630. September 17-22, in southeastern Texas-______ 11131. September 23, in southeastern Washingtor-__-_ 112


SUMMARY OF FLOODS IN THE UNITED STATES DURING1963

By J. O. ROSTVEDT and others

ABSTRACT

This report describes the most outstanding floods in the United States during 1963. The three most destructive floods occurred in March from Alabama to West Virginia and Ohio, in June in Nebraska, and in August in Buffalo, N.Y.

Widespread disastrous floods struck the western slopes of the Appalachian Mountains from Alabama to West Virginia and Ohio as a result of three storms moving over the area during March 4-19. Precipitation during the first storm period, March 4-6, caused some major stream overflows and produced conditions favorable for high runoff from subsequent rainfall. Heavy rainfall on Narch 11-13 produced record-breaking floods on many streams in Tennessee, Kentucky, Vir ginia, and West Virginia. Noteworthy floods occurred in the bordering States of Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, and Ohio. The third storm on If arch 16-19 was .significant because it prolonged the period of flooding and produced high- volume runoff in some areas. Twenty-six lives were lost, and more than 30,000 persons were forced from their homes. Damage to highways, railroads municipal and private property amounted to approximately $98 million.

Floods of June 24 in small basins in east-central Nebraska were the most severe known in the area. Discharges in many streams greatly exceeded the 50-year flood. Twenty-five cities and villages and more than 600 families suffered property loss. Three lives were lost. Property loss was about $13 million.

On July 29 the most severe rainstorm in 18 years occurred in western New York. On August 7, rains of near-record magnitude again fell over western New York, and record intensities were recorded in Buffalo for 1-, 2-, and 6-hour storms. The resulting floods on Sea j aqua da Greek were the highest recorded in a short period of record, and flood damage in Buffalo was estimated at $35 million.

In addition to the three floods mentioned above, 21 others of lesse" magnitude are considered important enough to be included in this annual summary.

INTRODUCTION

This report summarizes information on outstanding floods in the United States during 1963. The floods selected were unusual hydrologic events in which large areas were affected, great damage resulted, or record-high discharges or stages occurred and in which suffcient data were available for the preparation of a report.

Bl

B2 FLOODS OP 1963 IN THE UNITED STATES

U.S. Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 1830-A, "Floods of January-February 1963 in California and Nevada," is a special report that describes floods in that area in detail. The area for which flood reports have been prepared in 1963 is shown in figure 1. The area dis cussed in the special flood report is indicated by shading, and other areas discussed in this summary chapter are shown by line patterns. The months in which the floods occurred are shown; the map thereby gives both the location and the time distribution of floods during the year.

A flood is any high streamflow which overtops natural or artificial banks of a stream. By popular definition a flood is a newsworthy dis charge or stage of extremely high magnitude that inundates large areas and causes much damage or great loss of life. In a hydrologic sense an outstanding flood need not be newsworthy and mry be one of which only a few or possibly no persons are aware. An outstanding flood is a rare flood, one which will not often be duplicated at a given site. An unusually rare flood on an unoccupied or nonutilized flood plain would be little noticed by the public, but to the hydrologist it could be an event of great interest.

Floods result from the combined effects of meteorological events and physiographic characteristics of a basin. The principal physiographic features of a basin that affect floodflows are: drainage area, altitude, geology, shape, slope, aspect, and vegetative cover. With th°i exception of vegetative cover, which varies seasonally, the features are fixed for an area.

Meteorological events causing floods, of which precipitation is the principal one, are variable with respect to place and time. Some meteorological factors influencing floods are: form of the precipitation, Avhether rain, snow, hail, or sleet; amount and intensity of the precipi tation; moisture conditions of the soil antecedent to the flood-pro ducing precipitation; and temperature, which may cause frozen soil or determine the rate of snowmelt.

In general, meteorological conditions determine when and where the floods will be. The combination of the magnitude and intensity of meteorological factors and the effect of inherent physiographic fea tures on runoff determine w^hat the magnitude of a flood will be.

Many different and variable factors form innumerable combinations to produce floods of all degrees of severity. If there are two floods with equal peak discharges from different-size drainage basins and if both sites are assumed to have similar runoff and climatologic character istics, the one from the smaller drainage basin would be the rarer or the more outstanding flood. Also, if two floods have equal discharges from equal drainage basins, the rarer flood would be that at the site

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B4 FLOODS OF 1963 IN THE UNITED STATES

having geographic and climatologic characteristics that normally pro duce the smaller flood peak.

The severity and prevalence of floods are not wholly determined by the absolute values of the contributing factors amount and in tensity of rainfall, peak discharge in cubic feet per second, volume of runoff, ratio of runoff to rainfall, and many others but are greatly influenced by the ratio of these values to values und^r normal conditions.

Losses from floods in the United States during 1963 ($176 million) were more, than twice the losses in 1962 ($75 million) and slightly more than in 1961 ($154 million), and they were the highest since 1958, when the total was $218 million. The 1963 losses were about 50 percent of the national average of $350 million, based on the 10-year- period 1951-60, adjusted to the 1960 price index.

Total loss of life due to floods in 1963 was 39 compared with 19 in 1962 and 52 in 1961 and was half the national annual average of 78 lives lost during the 39-year period, 1925-63.

Many flood reports give the amount of rainfall and the duration of the storm producing the rain. Recurrence intervals of the flood-produc ing storms can be determined from the U.S. Weather Bureau (1961) or from a simplified set of isopluvial maps and charts in a report by Rostvedt (1965).

Continuing investigation of surface-water resources in the areas covered by this report is performed by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with State agencies, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, and other Federal or local agencies. Some data were obtained from U.S. Weather Bureau publications. Collection of data, computations, and some of the text were made by the district offices in whose district the floods occurred.

DETERMINATION OF FLOOD STAGES AND DISCHARGES

Data concerning peak stages and discharges at discharge stations in this report are those that are obtained and compiled in regular pro cedures of surface-water investigation by the U.S. Geological Survey.

The usual method of determining stream discharges at gaging sta tions is the application of a stage-discharge relation to a known stage. The relation at a station is usually defined by current-meter measure ments through as much of the range of stage as possible. If the peak discharge at a station is above the range of the computed stage- discharge relation, short extensions may be made to the graph of relation by logarithmic extrapolation, by velocity-area studies, or by use of other measurable hydraulic factors.

SUMMARY OF FLOODS B5

Peak discharges that are greatly above the range of the stage- discharge relation at gaging stations and peak discharges at miscel laneous sites are generally determined by indirect measurements. During major floods, adverse conditions often make it impossible to obtain current-meter measurements at some sites. Peak discharges can be measured after the flood has subsided by indirect methods based on detailed surveys of selected channel reaches. A general description of indirect methods is given by Corbett and others (1943), and more detailed descriptions with illustrated examples are reported by John son (1936) andDalrymple (1937,1939).

EXPLANATION OF DATA

The floods described herein are in chronological order. B^ause the characteristics and the amount of information differ for each flood, no consistent form is used to report the events.

The data include a description of the storm, the flood, and the flood damage; a map of the flood area showing the location of flood-determi nation points and, for some storms, the location of precipitation sta tions or isohyets; rainfall amounts and intensities; and flood-peak stages and discharges of the streams affected.

When considerable rainfall data are available, they are presented in tabular form and show daily or storm totals. When sufficient data are available to determine the pattern and distribution of rrinfall, an isohyetal map may be shown.

A summary table of peak stages and discharges is given for each flood unless the number of stations in the report is small, and then the information is included in the text description. In the summary table the first column under maximum floods shows the period of known floods prior to the 1963 floods. This period does not necessarily cor respond to that in which continuous records of discharge wer^ obtained, but the period may extend back to an earlier date. More than one period of known floods are shown for some stations. A period is shown whenever it can be associated with a maximum stage, even though the corresponding discharge may not be known. If the discharge is un known for the maximum stage, a second period of floods is given in which maximums of both discharge and stage are known.

The second column under maximum floods shows the year, within the period of known floods, in which the maximum stage or discharge oc curred. The third column gives the date of the peak stage or discharge of the 1963 flood.

The last column gives the recurrence interval for the 1963 peak discharge. The recurrence interval is the average interval, in years, in which a flood of a given magnitude (the 1963 peak) will be equaled


or exceeded once as an annual maximum. A flood having a recurrence interval of 20 years can be expected to occur, on the average, once in 20 years, or it is one that has a 5-percent chance of occurring in any year. The recurrence intervals in the tables were obtained from U.S. Geologi cal Survey reports on flood magnitude and frequency. In nearly all flood-frequency reports used, the data that are available limit the determination of recurrence intervals to 50 years. In a few reports the limit is less than 50 years. The severity of a flood whose recurrence interval exceeds the limit of determination is expressed rs the ratio of its peak discharge to the discharge of the flood that has a recurrence interval equal to the limits of determination.

SUMMARY OF FLOODS OF 1963

FLOODS OF JANUARY-FEBRUARY IN CALIFORNIA AND NEVADA

Flood-producing rains were associated with two warm frontal sys tems that crossed California and Nevada from the west on January 30 and 31. Most of the precipitation fell during a 72-hour period between January 29 and February 1. Three-day precipitation totals of more than 20 inches were recorded at several places in the Sierra Nevada and along the coast of California near Monterey Bay. The largest storm total was 27.15 inches at Westf all Eanger Station in the Sierra National Forest, Calif. The storm that produced the flood ended a record-breaking 42-day winter drought in the area.

The floods of January-February in California and Nevada (fig. 2) produced the greatest peak discharges in the history cf recorded streamflow in some areas of the Sierra Nevada, of which those in the American River basin were the most notable. The peak discharge of 121,000 cfs (cubic feet per second) on the Middle Fork American River near Auburn, Calif., for which records have been kept since 1911, exceeded not only the previous maximum of 79,000 cfs of the devas tating floods of 1955 but also exceeded all peaks since the great deluge of December 1861-January 1862. Maximum peaks of record occurred in several other central Sierra Nevada River basins, including those of the Carson, Truckee, Stanislaus, Feather, and Yuba Fivers. Loss of 10 lives was attributed to the storm and floods, and damage amounted to $18.5 million.

These floods are fully described in U.S. Geological Survey Water- Supply Paper 1830-A, "Floods of January-February 19^3 in Cali fornia and Nevada'' (Young and Harris, 1966). They present a general description of the storm precipitation, the floods, the flood damage, and the regulation of floodflow by storage reservoirs. Maximum stages and discharges for the 1963 flood and for the period of strtion record


FIGURE 2. Flood area for January-February in California and Nevada.

at 623 continuous-record gaging stations, crest-stage stations, miscel laneous sites, and reservoir stations are listed in a summary table. Station descriptions are given for all stations .listed in the summary table. A table of daily mean discharges for January and February 1963 and a table of stages and discharges at selected intervals during most of the days of floodflow are given for each continuous-record gaging station.


FLOODS OF JANUARY-FEBRUARY IN SOUTHERN IDAHO

By C. A. THOMAS

Record-breaking flood peaks occurred in February in southern Idaho. Peak discharges on many streams exceeded the exceptional rates of the February 1962 flood, and a considerable number had recurrence inter vals of more than 50 years. The area affected is shown in figure 3.

The floods resulted from above-freezing temperatures and prolonged light-to-moderate rainfall on light snow cover on ground that was frozen to considerable depths. These conditions were similar to those causing the February 1962 floods. The 1962 floods may have increased the efficiency of the contributing drainage systems and thus aggravated tlie 1963 flooding in some areas.

EXPLANATION

.48

Flood-determination pointNumber corresponds to

that in table 1

Isohyetal line, showing precipitation, in inches

42117

FIGURE 3. Location of flood-determination points and isohyets for Janu ary 28 February 1, floods of January-February, in southern Idaho.


Runoff rates were highest from streams draining areas of flatlands or rolling hills at low altitudes and were only moderate from high mountainous basins, some of which showed no significant rise in discharge.

Total damage in Idaho was estimated at more than $3^ million. This is considerably less than for the 1962 flood. Flooding in 1963 was more scattered than for the preceding year, and less population and lower concentration of industrial and other development in the flooded areas resulted in less total damage.

Floods were highest of record in many basins in the southern part of the State. Peak discharges on many streams are listed in table 1. Discharges were determined from rating curves that were extended when practicable, from indirect measurements, and from direct measurements at or near the peaks for the points shown in figure 3.

The weather conditions at Craters of the Moon National Monument, antecedent to and during the flood period, were typical of the con ditions that contributed to the high runoff rates and are illustrated in figure 4. Temperatures during December and January were 4° to 7° F below normal in southern Idaho. Precipitation for about 5 weeks prior to January 28 was also far below normal, less than 50 percent of nor mal at most weather stations. The topsoil was therefore fairly dry and loose, but underneath this the soil was frozen to considerable depth. Light snow fell on January 10-18 at many points and accumulated to depths of a few inches. More snow fell on January 29-31 and in creased the depth to 6 to 18 inches in the flood areas. Temperatures rose, and on January 31, the precipitation changed to rain. Intensity was moderate to heavy and ranged from 0.02 to 0.39 inches per hour. In many areas, all the snow wras melted.

Some noticeable differences from the floods of 1962 were evident. Because the ground surface was not glazed before the 1963 flood as it had been in 1962, the rapid runoff severely eroded the loose topsoil, especially from agricultural lands. Sediment movement was much greater than in 1962. Runoff from lava beds of the Snake River Plain was extremely low because the lava beds were not glazed with ice as they had been in 1962. More precipitation occurred during, or imme diately before, the flood than in 1962. The isohyetal lines, January 28-February 1, 1963, in figure 3 show that more than 3 inches of precipitation was recorded at several points in southern Idaho. The volume of runoff is believed to be less than in 1962 in most basins because of the absence of ice-glazed surfaces.

The peak flow in Devil Creek near Malad City (station 3), in Bear River basin, was three times the previous maximum peak in 25 years of record. Damage was confined to roads and farmland.

BIO FLOODS OF 1963 IN THE UNITED STATES

The most outstanding flood-discharge rate observed in Henrys Fork basin was 96 cfs per square mile from 14.1 sq mi in Milk Creek near Tetonia (station 5). This rate is unusually high for winter floods in Idaho. Principal damage from flooding in Henrys Fork basin was caused by ice jams. In some small areas the losses exceeded those of 1962. Roads, homes, potato storage pits, farm improvements, and lands were affected by the flooding water.

15

15 20 25 DECEMBER

FIGURE 4. Weather conditions for December 1962-Fiebruary 1963 at Craters of the Moon National Monument, Idaho.

SUMMARY OF FLOODS Bll

TABLE 1. Flood stages and discharges, January-February, in southern Idaho

Maximum floods

No. Stream and place of determination

Drainage Prior to area Jan. 1963 Janu-

ruary, Period Year 1963

D' 'charge

height Recur- (feet) Cfs rence

interval(yrs)

Bear River basin

1 Battle Creek tributary near

2 Little Malad River above Elkhorn Reservoir, near

3 Devil Creek , 7.8 miles north

4 Malad River at Woodruff,

4.5 1961-62 1962 ........................... Feb. 1

120 1911-13, 1962 ..........1931-32, 1940-62

-_--------._---_-. Jan. 31

15 1938-61 1961 ... . ._ _ . Feb. 1 .

485 1938-62 1962 .......... Feb. 2

11.17 81 ...12. 06 98

4.85 1,450 ...

4. 41 1, 100

.... U94 ... ..... 585

8.93 2,530 ...5,02 243

15

25

50

2

Henrys Fork basin

5 Milk Creek near Tetonia,

6 Canyon Creek at State Highway 33 near

7 Teton River near St.

8 Moody Creek at railroad crossing, 0.4 mile south of

14.1 1962 1962 ................. .... Feb. 1

76 1962 1962 ............ ... ... Feb. 1 ..

890 1890-93, 1962 ..........1903-09, 1920-62

.... . ... Feb. 3

88 1962 1962 ............... Feb. 1 ..

7.72 179 ...9. 13 1, 350

....- 814 ... ... 636

9.36 11,000 ...

8. 70 7, 280

.... 22,700 ....

. 1,040

50

25

25

25

Blackfoot River basin

9 Blackfoot River near

.. Feb. 3 ..7.68 1,710 ....

.... 31.100 50

Portneuf River basin

10 Portneuf River tributary, 1 mile northwest of Ban-

11 Fish Creek, 2.5 miles east of Lava Hot Springs, Idaho. .

12 Dempsey Creek, 1 mile west of Lava Hot Springs,

13 Portneuf River at Topaz,

14 Rapid Creek, 1.5 miles from U.S. High way 91 at

15 Marsh Creek near McCam-

16 East Fork Mink Creek near

17 Portneuf River at Pocatello,

130 1962 1962 .............................. Feb. 1 ..

20.1 1962 1962 .............._.__........_... Feb. 1 ..

42 .................. Feb. 1 ._

570 1913-15, 1962 ..........1919-62

_....._.._._.__._. Feb. 1

57.2 ____.._____.__.___ Feb. 1 -.

355 1954-62 1962 ............................ Feb. 1

1 9^n 1 SQ7 QQ 1 Qfi9

1911-62 .................. Feb. 2

._._.._._ 473 ....

.._.._... 574

........ <54 _............ 1,360

........ 400 _._.

7.83 '6,140 --..

8. 22 » 7, 120

.._..._. 526 .--.

13.25 « 1,120 .__.9. 31 « 643

6.39 49 ..-.

11.35 '2,990 .--.

10. 07 7 2, 510

50

50

50

30

30

See footnotes at end of table.

309-939 O - 69 - 2


TABLE 1. Flood stages and discharges, January-February, in southern Idaho Continued

Maximum floods


Drainage area

(sq mi)

Prior to Jan. 1963

Period Year

Janu ary-Feb

ruary, 1963

Gage height (feet)

Discharge

CfsRecur

rence interval

(yrs)

Bannock Creek basin

18

19

Bannock Creek near

Bannock Creek at U.S. Highway 30 near Poca-

230

413

1955-58, 1962 1962

1962 1962

Feb. 1

Feb. 1 .

10.6

10.8

4,130

4,600

4,010 3,930

50

30

Rock Creek basin

20

21

22

Rock Creek. 2.5 miles north

Rock Creek, 1.9 miles above former gage site and 4.6 miles southeast of Rock-

East Fork Rock Creek, 4.5 miles east of Rockland, Idaho--_--__--__.-_.--_-__

96

156

13.7

1962 1962

1955-60 8, 1962 1962

1960-62 1962

Feb. 1 .

Feb. 1 .

Feb. 11.80 2.25

1,770

2,120

5,100

26 39

Raft River basin

23 Heglar Canyon tributary7.72 1958,1962 1958

Feb. 117-7 12.25

1,930 233 50

Big Wood River basin

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

Deer Creek near Fairfleld,

Camas Creek near Blaine,

Schooler Creek near

Big Wood River at Gooding,

Silver Creek near Picabo,

Jim Byrnes Slough, 1 mile east of Richfield, Idaho.. .-

Big Wood River near

13.2

648

2.22

2,190

88

(12)

2,990

1961-62 1962

1912-21, 1943 1923-62

1961-62 1962

1896, 1898- 1896 99, 1921-48

1920-62 1955

1962 1962

1916-62 1952

Feb. 3

Feb. 3

Feb. 1

Feb. 1

Feb. 4 .

Feb. 1 .

Feb. 1

3.73 10 4. 20

15.45

16.2

3.83 5.90

9.6

11.6

3.70

10.67 11.89

69 71

? 9, 780

'9,200

35 68

5,940

"6,300

357 757

1,5201,000

6,500 i'8.440

25

50

50

50



TABLE 1. Flood stages and discharges, January-February, in southern Idaho Continued


Maximum floods

Drainage Prior to Dischargearea Jan. 1963 Janu- Gage

(sq mi) ary-Feb- height Recur- ruary, (feet) Cfs rence

Period Year 1963 interval(yrs)

Clover Creek basin

31 Clover Creek, 6 milesupstream from Calf Creek near Bliss, Idaho__-._

32 Calf Creek, 1.1 miles above confluence with Clover Creek near Bliss, Idaho __

71.2 .. - Feb. 1

39.4 __________________ Feb. 1

5,680

4,150

Snake River Main Stem

33 Snake River near King Hill, Idaho.._________ 35,800 1909-62 1918 __________ 16.3 « 47,200

________________ _ Feb. 2 10.96 '23,200

King Hill Creek basin

34 King Hill Creek near King Hill. Idaho..-.- ----- 78.9 1913,1938-41 1940 __________ 7.20 763

__________________ Feb. 1 __________ 2.320

Little Canyon Creek basin

35 Burns Gulch near Glenns Ferry, Idaho. -- -

36 Little Canyon Creek at Stout Crossing near Glenns Ferry, Idaho..

37 Little Canyon Creek atBerry Ranch near Glenns Ferry, Idaho...______._.__

0.76-------_--__ (») __________ 6.72 Ifi__________________ Feb. 1 7.73 22

14.2 1961-62 1962 __________ 11.02 65_____________ ____ Feb. 1 12.33 196

26.9 1960-62 1962 ________ _ 3.22 181_________________ Feb. 1 4.60 519

Bruneau River basin

38 Wickahoney Creek, 1000 ft upstream from former gage near Bruneau, Idaho. 253 1939-19 1943 __________ 12.4 2,100

- - Feb. 1 7.73 1,720

Fossil Creek basin

39 Fossil Creek near Oreana, Idaho_ - - - 19.7 1961-62 1961 ______ 16.2 100

__________________ Jan. 31 15.45 84

Sinker Creek basin

40 Sinker Creek 6.5 miles southeast of Murphy, Idaho.._______________ 74 1962 1962 __________ 13.15 774

__-__.__-____._._- Feb. 1 7.97 400



TABLE 1. Flood and discharges, January-February, in southern Idaho Continued

Maximum floods

Drainage Prior to No. Stream and place of area Jan. 1963 Janu- Gage -

Periodruary, (feet)

Year 1963

Discharge

Recur- Cfs rence

interval (yrs)

Squaw Creek basin

41 Little Squaw Creek trib utary near Marsing, Idaho. 1.81 1961-62 1961 ___--__ 6.55 7.8

-----.-.-_---.-. Jan. 31 10.78 93

Sucker Creek basin

42 Sucker Creek, 0.5 mile down stream from former gage near Homedale, Idaho __ _ 413 1903-09 1905 . 7.30

_-.-.-. Feb. 1 __ .-2,500

13,000 50

Owyhee River basin

43 Jordan Creek above Lone Tree Creek, near Jordan Valley, Oreg_. __

44 Owyhee River near Rome, Oreg..__-_-__-_. _ .

440 1945-52,1955-«2 1952 --_----- >*5.57 3,250

-. .-. Feb. 1 8.41 3,110

,000 1949-62 1952 ------ 15.36 >' 27,800- . Feb. 1 14.20 24,100

30

~40

Boise River basin

45 Bryans Run near Boise,Idaho .............. ... .... . 7.03 1961-62 1962

Feb. 111.0111.24

116 ..........142 ..........

Payette River basin

46 Cottonwood Creek near

47 Langley Gulch near New

48 Clearwater River at

6. 53 1961-62

3. 9 1961-62

9, 570 1911-13,1925-62

1962 _.-...-....... Feb. 1

...... Feb. 1

1948 ..........

._--_ Feb. 5

13.0516.81

9.91

23.76

»«27.77 .

112 .......--303 -___.--

39 ..........

177,000 .....----.

1 At former site % mile upstream; drainage area, 13 sq mi, approximately.2 Peak flow into pool at upstream end of culvert; maximum outflow through pipe, 1,840 cfs.3 Only the area below reservoir, 714 sq mi, contributed to the flow. < At site 1.5 miles upstream; drainage area, 16.1 sq mi.s Result of failure of highway fill 2 miles upstream; natural peaks, 3,690 cfs in 1962 ard about 2,400 cfs

in 1963.6 Maximum observed. i Flow regulated by reservoir or reservoirs.8 At site 1.9 miles downstream; drainage area, 182 sq mi.9 At site 4.6 miles downstream; drainage area, 216 sq mi.10 Affected by backwater from ice.11 Flow from area below Magic Dam, 1,600 sq mi, noncontributing.12 Drainage area indeterminate. » Prior to October 1960.14 Site and datum then in use.15 Reported by local resident to be highest since at least 1882.


Portneuf River basin was hardest hit of any basin in Idaho. Damage was estimated at about $2% million. Fish Creek (station 11) and Portneuf River basin tributary (station 10) near Bancroft were higher than in 1962. As in 1962, the 1963 flood washed out a road fill and culvert below Lava Hot Springs. The urban areas of Pocatello, Lava Hot Springs, and Bancroft sustained most of the damage in the Portneuf River basin.

Discharges of Rock Creek (stations 20, 21) and Bannock Creek (stations 18, 19) exceeded the capacity of the culverts, bridges, and channels, and serious washouts occurred. Traffic was rerouted and expensive structures were rebuilt, repaired, or replaced. Discharges of the Big Wood River and Clover Creek (station 31) exceeded any previously recorded flood in some parts of the basins. Rates of runoff were exceptionally high. Discharge of Silver Creek (station 28) was more than twice the highest previously recorded in 42 years of record. The Big Wood River near Gooding (station 30) was higher than any previously recorded peak in 46 years of record even though no flow from the 1,600 sq mi above Magic Dam was released. Unit discharge from Calf Creek (station 32), a tributary of Clover Creek, was 105 cfspersqmi.

Sucker Creek (station 42), tributary to the Snake River near the Idaho-Oregon border, reached a peak more than five times the maxi mum of 6 years of record. This discharge is believed to have a recurrence interval of more than 50 years. The flood washed out a State highway bridge and reaches of county roads, eroded farmland, and damaged or destroyed farm improvements and livestock.

The Clearwater River in north-central Idaho had heavy ice cover on practically all channels at the end of January. On February 2, rain and snowmelt began to increase the riverflow and the ice loosened. As the flow increased, the channel became choked with ice that had moved downstream. Passage was blocked by heavy ice cover on the mill pond a few miles above Lewiston. Ice jams overtopped the banks, moved over roads, railroads, and other improvements, and piled against bridges and buildings. Maximum stages were reached on Feb ruary 4 and 5. Discharges were not particularly high, but the stage of 2T.TT ft at the Clearwater River at Spalding (station 48) was the maximum in a 42-year period of record.

Damages from the flood in Idaho as estimated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District, are briefly summarized by basins in table 2. Some of these damage figures are a large part of the property valuation in the areas flooded. It was estimated, for example, that damage in Portneuf River basin was 17 percent of the property valuation in the basin.


TABLE 2. Damage summary, flood of February 1963, in southern Idaho

Basin Damage Portneuf River__________ ____________________ $2, 580,000Bannock Greek_________________Rock Creek____ _ __. Teton River and lower Henrys Fork- Big and Little Wood Rivers_________Sucker Creek_____________ __ Clearwater River___________________

136,000209,000165,000275,00076,000

287,000

Total_____________________________________ $3, 728, 000

FLOODS OF JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 5 IN EASTERN OREGON

By D. D. HARRIS

Floods in the Lakeview area and in the Malheur, Powder, Owyhee, and Burnt River basins of eastern Oregon (fig. 5) during the period

121' 120° 119° 118° 117°

45° -

44'

43'

42'


that in table 3

CALIFORNI

50 50 MILES

FIGURE 5. Location of flood-determination points, floods of January 31-Feb- ruary 5, in eastern Oregon.


January 31 February 5 were caused by a sudden thaw accompanied by moderate rains on snow. A snow cover of 3 to 6 inches existed over many of the low valleys in late January. Extremely low temperatures during the period January 28-30 froze the ground and caused thick ice to form on many of the streams. Temperatures began rising late on January 30 and remained unseasonably warm through February 6. During this thawing period, steady rain fell over the entire area and totaled 2.44 inches at Lakeview, 1.22 inches at Vale, 1.73 inches at Burns, and 0.97 inches at Baker. Figure 6 shows the weather con ditions at Baker before and during the flood period.

The combination of rain and snowmelt resulted in a heavy runoff that produced maximum flows of record on many streams in the Warner Lakes basin east of Lakeview. The peak discharge at Drake Creek near Adel (station 3), 4,050 cfs on January 31, was 2.7 times greater than the discharge for the 50-year flood at that site. Peak flows in other streams in the Warner Lakes valley approached or exceeded the 50-year flood. Peak discharges and their recurrence intervals at the sites shown on the map (fig. 5) are listed in table 3.

Flooding in the Malheur River basin extended along the flood plain from Juntura to the mouth. Floods near Vale were caused mainly by local runoff when about 12 inches of snow melted in a 4-hour period. Floodflows below Juntura would have been higher if reservoirs had not reduced the flow contributed from upstream runoff. The North Malheur River above Agency Valley Reservoir (station 13) had a record peak flow of 2,060 cfs on February 3. However, the flow below Agency Valley Reservoir (station 14) was held to less than 1 cfs dur ing the entire flood period. Storage in Warmsprings Reservoir (above

+ 80

-202345

FEBRUARY

FIGURE 6. Weather conditions for January 27-February 5 at Baker, Oreg.


TABLE 3. Flood stages and discharges, January Si-February 5, in easternOregon

Maximum floods

Drain- No. Stream and place of age area

determination (sq mi)

Prior to January 1963

Period Year

January- February

1963

Gage

(feet)

Discharge

Recur- Cfs rence

interval(yr)

Warner Lakes basin

1 Twentymile Creek near Adel. .

2 Camas Creek near Lakeview ...

»194

63

67

249

170

1911-16, 1918-19, 1921-22, 1941-63

1913-14, 1950-63

1915, 1922-23, 1949-63

1923, 1930-63

1890. 1910-15, 1921-22, 1930-63

1955

1955

1955

1937

1915

Feb.

Feb.

Jan,

Feb.

Feb.

1

1

31

1

1

14.80

14.4 5.15

4.95 3.93

5.69 7.5

7.83 9.20

10.46

3,260 ..

3,160 1,630 ..

1,440 1,100 ..

4,050 5,030 ..

5,500 33,840 ..

6,210

34

U.01

»2.72

21.30

»1.98

Albert Lake basin

6 Chewaucan River near Paisley ____ . ............. 275 1909,

1912-21, 1924-63

1909 1955

Feb. 1

5.45

5.42

4,000 ..3,260 ..

3,100 13

Malheur and Barney Lakes basin

934

228

1904-06, 1909-63

1952-63

1952

1952Feb.

Feb.

4

1

15.2

U2.716.65 5.90

4,960 --

W

970

W

13

Owyhee River basin

10 Owyhee River below Owyhee

8,000

11,160

1882-1963

1929-63

1952

1952

Feb.

Feb

1

1

15.36 14.20

15.7

27,800 --24,100

22,900 ..«3 ..

24

Malheur River basin

11 Malheur River near Drewsey_.

12 Malheur River below Warm- springs Reservoir near

910

1,100

1920-22, 1927-63

1909-10, 1915-17, 1919-63

1957

1910

Feb.

Feb

1

1

13.20

11.7

10,700 --

6,000

7,200 ..

31



TABLE- 3. Flood stages and discharges, January Si-February 5, in eastern Oregon Continued

Maximum floods


Drain- Prior to age area January 1963 January-

1963 "

Period Year

Gage

(feet)

Discharge

Recur- Cfs rence

interval(yr)

Malheur River basin Continued

13

14

15

North Fork Malheur River above Agency Valley Reser-

North Fork Malheur River at

Malheur River at Little Valley near Hope . _ .

355 1914, 1957 _________1937-63

.._._.__ __. _ Feb. 3

440 1927-63 1942 _ . _

3,010 1949-63 1957 . . . ........ _._ Feb. 2

3.50

5.78

8.4

11.5 10.65

1,600 _.__.__.

2,060 2 1.04

'7,000 __.. ..«1 ... .

12,300 ... 10. 600 (')

Burnt River basin

16

17

Burnt River near Bridge port . . . . _ . . _

Burnt River at Huntington._

650 -1957-63 1957 - . . . . -....--.-.-..__. Feb. 3

1,093 1929-32, 1957 .. ..... 1957-63

.................. Feb. 3

5.43 4.'01 6.39

36.80

1,270 __ .... 704 <2

2,190 __ . ...

<*) W

Powder River basin

18 Powder River near Baker. __. 219 1904-14, 1910 ... 1927-63 . _ ........... Feb. 2

(4)

5 5. 58

s 1,820 __ . ...

(«) (*)19 Powder River near Rich-

land___ _._ ___ _____ 1,310 1958-63 1958 .. ... 4.76 2,210 ........___ _ .......... Feb. 3 '7.10 . . _ . .

. ... . Feb. 5 ...... _ 1,240 <2

1 Includes 46 sq mi in Cowhead Lake area.2 Ratio of peak discharge to 50-year flood.3 Caused by failure of storage dam.4 Not determined.3 Affected by backwater from ice.8 Flow regulated by reservoir; daily mean discharge.7 Caused by failure of gates at Agency Valley Dam.* Daily mean discharge.

station 12) and in the partly completed Bully Creek Reservoir also helped to reduce flooding in the lower valley.

Owyhee Reservoir on the Owyhee River (above station 10) and Unity Reservoir on the Burnt River (above station 16) effectively con trolled downstream floodflows. Flooding in the Powder River basin re sulted from ice jams formed at channel constrictions, although runoff was not exceptionally great.

Property damage was extensive in the Powder and Malheur River basins. Damage in the Powder River basin, estimated by the Corps of Engineers at $128,000, was primarily the result of backwater from ice jams downstream from Baker. The backwater inundated the north residential area of Baker and more than 2,900 acres of farmland below


Baker. Damage in the Malheur River basin, estimated by the Corps of Engineers at $477,000, was mainly erosion of land and streanrbeds; roads, fences, and bridges also were damaged. The area flooded in the Malheur River valley was more than 7,500 acres. Damage occurred to roads and stream-diversion structures in the Warner Lakes basin east of Lakeview, particularly along Honey Creek. Damage was rela tively minor in the Burnt River and Owyhee River basins.

FLOODS OF FEBRUARY 1 AT VIVIAN PARK, UTAH

An intense storm near Vivian Park, Utah, on January 29-February 2 produced a peak discharge on the South Fork Provo River at Vivian Park (fig. 7) that was four times the previous maximum in 51 years of

EXPLANATION

Flood-determination point

40°15'

FIGURE 7. Location of flood-determination points for flood of February 1, atVivian Park, Utah.


record. The discharge on the Provo River at Vivian Park, although not of flood magnitude, was unusually high when associated with the area producing the runoff.

During the storm, the U.S. Weather Bureau rain gage at Deer Creek recorded 5.08, 8.88, 9.59, and 10.13 inches, respectively, for 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours. The magnitude of the 24-hour precipitation was about 1.7 times the 50-year rainfall and about 1.45 times the 100-year rainfall (U.S. Weather Bureau, 1961). The storm rainfall at the Deer Creek rain gage was the greatest recorded at any precipitation station in the State, and it exceeded all previous precipitation records in Utah for the 24-, 48-, 72-, and 96-hour storms.

The peak discharge, estimated at 500 cf s, on South Fork Provo River at Vivian Park came from a drainage area of 30 sq mi and was a rare hydrologic event. The magnitude of this peak was 1.5 times a 50-year flood. Before the flood of February 1, 1963, the maximum discharge observed at the site during the period of record, 1912-62, was 123 cfs on May 27,1922.

Discharge on the Provo River above the mouth of the South Fork at Vivian Park is largely controlled 4 miles upstream by Deer Creek Reservoir. The increase in discharge of 490 cfs, which was caused by the rains, would not be considered a flood on the Provo River at this point (drainage area, 600 sq mi). The maximum discharge in the period of record, 1912-63, was 3,180 cfs in 1921. However, the addi tional discharge came from only a 40-sq mi drainage area downstream from the dam and was about three times a 50-year flood from that size contributing area.

FLOODS OF FEBRUARY 3-7 IN SOUTHEASTERN WASHINGTON

By L. L. HUBBAED

Snow-melt and ice breakup caused by a sharp rise in temperature and by moderate to heavy rainfall caused severe flooding during the period February 3-7 in many areas of southeastern Washington (fig. 8). Be low-normal temperatures during the latter half of January and through February 2 froze the ground to depths as great as 2^ feet and produced ice up to 1/a feet thick on streams. Some parts of the area had as much as 15 inches of snow on the ground on February 2. Temper atures rose from below freezing on February 2 to tlie middle fifties by February 4. Most of the major flooding occurred on February 3 when moderate rains accompanied the temperature rise.

Twenty-four-hour precipitation varied considerably over the area. Approximately 1.2 inches was recorded north of Roosevelt in the upper Rock Creek basin and at Spokane. Recorded precipitation at stations between Rosalia and Anatone was generally about 0.8 inch, and at most of the remaining flood area it was about 0.2 inch.

121°

120°

119°

JCO

UL

EE

D

AM

1

18

°11

7°

EX

PL

AN

AT

ION

.4Fl

ood-

dete

rmin

atio

n po

int

Num

ber

corr

espo

nds

to

46

W B

FIG

URE

8.

Lo

cati

on

of

floo

d-de

term

inat

ion

poin

ts,

floo

ds o

f F

ebru

ary

3-7,

in

sout

heas

tern

Was

hing

ton.


Many of the streams had returned to base flow by the evening of February 4. Heavy rains again fell in the same area on the still frozen ground and in some places caused peaks that exceeded those of February 3.

Major flooding occurred in the Hangman Creek drainage area of the Spokane River basin and in the basins of Crab Creek, Deadman Creek, Tucannon River, Palouse River, Alder Creek, and RocV Creek. Small tributary streams created the only flooding in the basins of Esquatzel Coulee, Yakima River, and Walla Walla River.

A notable reduction in the peak flow from Pine Creek was caused by storage in Rock Lake. Pine Creek above the lake had a p^ak flow of 10,800 cfs from 302 sq mi. Although additional tributaries flow into the lake, the peak discharge at the lake outlet (523-sq-mi drainage area) into Rock Creek was 4,000 cfs.

Flow in the main stem of the Palouse River at Hooper (table 5, station 67) exceeded the great floods of 1910 and 1948. Mort of the flooding occurred in the nonurban areas. The major damage was soil erosion, silt and debris deposition, and washed-out bridges, reads, and fences.

The most severe flooding occurred in the Palouse River basin, where about 15,000 acres of land were flooded. The total estimated damage in the inspected parts of the basin amounted to $614,000, including $112,000 to railroads. Estimates of urban damage as reported by the Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District, are shown in table 4.

TABLE 4. Estimate of damage in selected settled areas in the Palouse River basin re sulting from the flood of February 1963

[Excludes rural areas]

Location

Colfax... ---__-.......-__....._...

St. John... . _____..__.____Gal-field... --_-.__._.__..___.____Endicott... . __ . _____ ... _Oakesdale,.... . __ . ___ ....

Pullman

Stream

"Pino fVaat

Estimated damage

..... $203,000

..... 61,000

..... 20,000

..... 16,000

..... 15,000

..... 7,500

..... 7,000

..... 2,000

About 1,400 acres of land were flooded near Richland along the lower Yakima River when ice jams created several feet of backwater. The Corps of Engineers estimated damage in the Richland area to be $14,000. The ice moved out prior to the peak floodflows and it was the freeing of the ice that prevented more severe damage. An esti mated $25,000 damage to railroad and highway culverts and embank ments was caused near Roosevelt by Rock Creek.

A summary of flood stages and discharges for the streams most affected by this flood is given in table 5.


TABLE 5. Flood stages and discharges, February 3-7, in southeastern Washington

Maximum flooch


Drainage Prior to area February 1963

Period Year

Feb ruary 1963

Discharge

height (feet)

Cfs

Recur rence

interval (yrs)

Spokane River basin

1

2

3

4

5

67

8

9 10

North Fork Hangman Creek at

Hangman Creek tributary near

South Fork Rock Creek tribu-

Stevens Creek tributary near

Hangman Creek at Spokane ....

Bigelow Gulch near Spokane . . ..

Little Creek at Dartford. .......Spring Creek tributary near

64. 6 1959 1959

2.18 1957 1957 1961-63 1962

. 59 1962-63 1962

2. 02 1954-63 1957

689 1948-63 1959

13.6 .... ..... ..... .53. 9 1959 1959

2. 07 1950, 1962- 1950 .63

11.9 ..................

1. 14 1954-63 1959

3 .

3

4

4

3 3 .

3 .

3 3

3

13.9 10.64 10.82

24.84 10.74

8.24 10.66 12.30 13.35

(')

12.56 15.78

9.37 10.91

3,750 3,700

(0 142 155

32 43

52 125

16,200 14,600

871 1,5301,500 1,510

222 325

102 135

25

6

3

'1.09

35«1.74

3 1.03

(') (')

15

Hawk Creek basin

11 23. 2 1957, 1959, 1957 1963

4

18.98

13.76

2,200

897 5

Schnebly Coulee basin

12 Schnebly Coulee tributary near0.82 1955-63 1957

711.41 10.76

42 19 3

Crab Creek basin

13

14

15 16 17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

South Fork Crab Creek tribu-

South Fork Crab Creek near Edwall... .....................

Canniwai Creek tributary near

Broadax Draw tributary near Wibur.. ....... ... .... .....

Wilson Creek at Wilson Creek. _.

Paha Coulee tributary near Bitzville... ....................

Lind Coulee tributary near Lind.

Farrier Coulee near Schrag __ .

0. 68 1954-63 1957

22.2 1957,1959 1959

64.7 ..................815 ..................

1,042 1943-63 1957 .

25 1958-63 1958 .

43.0 1957,1959 1957 .

1.12 1955-63 1955 .

427 1951-63 1957 .

2,228 1943-63 1957 .

8. 52 1962-63 1962

.21 1956,1961- 1956 .63

42.0 ..................

3

4 .35 .

5

4

3 .

3

5

7

4

5 5

11.45 10.70

4.42

11.94 11.40

12.00 7.45

14.64 8.44

20.74 11.18 6.81 5.94

9.40 10.98 10.02

7.35 5.82

11148

1,520920

1,060 6,400 8,370 7,750

165 16

3,040 1,450

205 44

12,900 2,700

10,400 4,200

114 220 60

10 303

3

6 3

(0

3 1.17

2

5

2

31.61

12

15

5 7



TABLE 5. Flood stages and discharges, February 3-7, in southeastern Washington Continued

Maximum floods

No.]

Stream and place of determination

Drainage Prior to area February 1963

n ]

Period Year

'eb- lary 1963

height (feet)

Discharge

Recur rence

Cfs interval (yrs)

Yakima River basin

26

27

28

29

30

31

32

33

34

35

36

37

38 39 40

South Fork Manashtash Creek

Johnson Canyon tributary near Kittitas...... ..................

McPherson Canyon at Wymer..

Selah Creek tributary near

Firewater Canyon near Moxee City...........................

Toppenish C reek near Fort

Simcoe Creek below Spring

Toppenish Creek tributary near

Satus Creek tributary near

Mule Dry Creek near Satus. . . . . Yakima River tributary near

2.12 1955-63 1957 ..

.65 1956-63 1957 ...

5.48 1952,1955-63 1952 ...

.68 1955-63 1961 ...

3.91 1955-63 1956 ...

7.30 .___....__.._...._

122 1909-24 1916 ...

83 1909-23 1910 ...

1.24 1955-63 1956 ...

8. 54 1953, 1956, 1961,1963 1956 ...

270 1953,1956 1956 ...

158 --._.-_._..__.--.8.61 -.-.__-...__._-_._

1.91 1954-63 1954 ...

3

7

7

3

3

3

3

3

3 _

3

3

3 .3 .3 ..

3

10.45 9.02

11.13 10.17 19.69 14. 95

7.78 8.22

20.31 22.77 7.24 7.59

7.06

5.52 2.55

7.2

19.47 19.06

52.22 45.72

15.32 8.26

ICO ...£3

43 ...28

3C4 ...74

22 ...31 52 ...

46 ...55

77

840

1,750 ...

33 _ 23

9-5 ...

9,310 ...8, MO 7,4*0 3,310

2>4 ...52

5

10

3

11

5 1.10

50

2

3

M.42

"

M.60

31.67 32.19 3 1.57

6

Esquatzel Coulee basin

41

42

Hatton Coulee tributary 2 near

Dunningan Coulee near Connell.

2.44 1961-63 1961 ...5

5

7.12 19.04 14.01

7 ...29

4% ...131

6

5

Asotin Creek basin

43 Asotin Creek below Kearney170 1904, 1929-

1959,

3«4.3

3.751, ISO ...

420 3

Dry Creek basin

44 Dry Creek at mouth near6.83 ...__...____._.__. 4 12.26 198 4

Alpowa Creek basin

453 11.38

51 f<X)298 15




Maximum floods


Drainage area

(sq mi)

Prior to February 1963

Period

I

Year

Feb- uary 1963

Gage - height (feet)

Discharge

Recur rence

Cfs interval(yrs)

Deadman Creek basin

46

47

48

49

50

South Fork Deadman Creek

Smith Gulch tributary near Pataha- -----------------------

Deadman Creek above Meadow

Ben Day Gulch tributary near

Meadow Creek near Central

0.54

1.85

135

.78

65.1

1961-63

1955-63

1961-63

1961 _.

1961 ..

1961 ..

3

4

3 .

4

3

8.27 7.30

10.86 10.69

7.72 7.29

7.33

91 ..65

254 ..246

5,200

43 ..32

2,230

40

M.

31.

36

05

3

2.5

Tucannon River basin

51

52

Tucannon River near Starbuck..

Kellog Creek at Starbuck ... . .

431

35.3

1915-17, 1929-31, 1959-63

1930 ..

3 3

? 8.08

7.90 11.80

6,000 ..

4,700 2,140

30 »1. 24

Palonse River basin

53

54

55

56

57

58

59

60

61

62

63

64

65

66

Palouse River near Colfax _ _ _ _ _ .

South Fork Palouse River at

Missouri Flat Creek tributary

Missouri Flat Creek at Pullman -

Fourmile Creek at Shawnee

Palouse River below South Fork at Colfax . . _. ... .

Palouse River tributary at Colfax......... . . .. ... .

Hardman Draw tributary near

Pleasant Valley Creek at St.

Union Flat Creek near Colfax . .

491

132

1.22

27.1

71.6

797

2.10

1.64

302

523

526

10.8

38.2 189

1948 1956-63

1910 1934-42,

1948, 1959-63

1955-63

1935-40, 1948.

1959-63

1910 1934-40,

1959

1955-63

1955-63

1962-63

1904-05, 1915-17, 1959

1948

1948

1954-63

1948 . 1959

1910 -.1948 .

1956 .

1948 ..

"1910

1959

1956 .

1957 ..

1Qfi9

1904 ..

1948 _

1948 .-

1QCQ

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

4

3

4 ~"~4~

3-4

3 .

3

(') 8.18 9.10

0) *9.5

6.91

2 11.92 12.78

6.3 4.70

(')

6.00 8.50

16.49

19.18 21.82

15.85 13.00 9.08

20.9

215.6 7.10

16.4 17.5 (») 0)

5.52 10.58

8 6, 930 . . 6,310 . 8,030

'7,500 5,000 .

2,160

139 234

1,500 .. 915

(')

1,990 . 9 2, 140

14,500

70 180

1° 1,780 ._175

1,220 ._10,800

1,980 .-4,000(') -4,330

(')580

12 2, 220 2,080 -2.260

31.

15

3 1.

11

15

11

3 1.

10

5

5

79

12

15

15

35

05

19




Maximum floods

Drainage Prior to No. Stream and place of area February 1963

ruary 1963

Period Year

Discharge

height (feet)

Cfs

Recur rence

interval (yrs)

Palouse River basin Continued

1948, 1951-63 1910 ........

468 Cow Creek tributary near

Ritzville.. _. 1.51 1951 1951 ........

- . 469 Stewart Canyon tributary near

4

222.00 19.13

11.97 9.25 7.75

8.87 13.35

29,810 33,510

115 115

53

18277

31.26

2

0)

Walla Walla River basin

70 Dry Creek near Walla Walla.... 48.4 1949-63 1949 __ ....__-...._ 3

71 Hatley Creek near Dayton....... 4.12 1955-63 1962 - -. - 4

72 Davis Hollow near Dayton... 3.10 1956-63 1956 . 4

73 Thorn Hollow near Dayton _ .. 2.68 1962-63 1962 .. 4

74 Badger Hollow near Clyde - 4.16 1955-63 1956 4

75 Walla Walla River tributary near Wallula... -- .80 1955-63 1958

4

11.6 5.93

15.15 16.58

17.16 6.30 8.60

10.13 10.53

15.45 15.26

3,340£55 189 £44

81 80

£02 F27

6 4

4

20

3

30

31.08

3

Glade Creek basin

76 Glade Creek tributary near Bickelton - ............. 0.5 1961-63 1961

. 33.97 4.65

26 43 10

31.86

Alder Creek basin

78 Alder Creek near Bickelton ___ 8.35 _ . ___ _ ___ 379 Alder Creek at Alderdale _ ..... 195 .................. 3

13.05 8.80

880 5,560

32.5531.51

Rock Creek basin

1961 .-.. 3 .

19.8

2, 870 .

1.P30 31.1440

1 Not determined.2 Site and datum then in use.3 Ratio of peak discharge to 50-year flood.* At site 2.5 miles upstream. 5 At site 1 mile downstream. At site 4 miles downstream.i From Corps of Engineers' data.s Maximum known since 1910.8 Contracted-opening measurement 0.9 mile upstream.1° Largest known flood in 65 years.» Exceeded only by 1963 flood in last 30 years." Largest known flood since at least 1915." Largest known flood since at least 1932.

309-939 O - 69 - 3


FLOODS OF MARCH FROM ALABAMA TO WEST VIRGINIA AND OHIO

After HARRY H. BAENBS, JR., (1964) and WILLIAM P. CROSS (1964)

A succession of three storms associated with low pressure systems moved northeastward from northern Alabama to West Virginia and Ohio during the period March 4-19. The area most severely affected and for which peak stage and discharge data are furnished in this report is shown in figure 9.

On March 5-6, from 2 to 3 inches of rain fell over most of the area and up to 6 inches fell in widely scattered areas. On March 11-12 the second storm, accompanied by high winds and scattered tornadoes, moved over the area. Some parts were deluged with 5 to 6 inches of rain in less than 24 hours. The third storm on March 16-19 produced up to 4 inches of rain over the Cumberland River basin and the upper Ohio River basin.

The three storms produce widespread, prolonged, and disastrous floods in Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia, Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina, Alabama, and Georgia. The first storm (Marcl 5-6) pro duced record-breaking floods in a few streams draining the western slopes of the Great Smoky Mountains and in southern Ohio. The first storm also primed the entire area for the second storm (March 11- 12), which produced record-breaking floods in the upper Cumberland River basin in Kentucky; in the Tennessee River basin tributaries in Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina, and Alabama; in the Guyandotte River in West Virginia; and in the Big Sandy River tributaries in West Virginia and Kentucky. The period of flooding following the third storm on March 17 was prolonged on many streams in Kentucky, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Data of peak stages and discharges at 308 flood-determination sites (fig. 10) are given in table 6.


FIGURE 9. Area flooded in March from Alabama to West Virginia and Ohio.

Floo

d-de

term

inat

ion

poin

tN

umbe

r co

rres

pond

s to

that

in t

able

6

oo

o

87

81'

FIG

URE

10. L

oca

tion o

f fl

ood-

dete

rmin

atio

n po

ints

, fl

oods

of

Mar

ch,

from

Ala

bam

a to

Wes

t V

irgi

nia

and

Ohi

o.W CO


TABLE 6. Flood stages and discharges, March, Alabama to West Virginia and Ohio

Maximum floods


Drainage area

(sq mi)

Prior to March 1963

Period Year

March 1963

(feet)

Discharge

CfsRecur rence

interval (yrs)

Apalachicola River basin

1 Chattahoochee River near Leaf, Ga..__- _ ............

2 Soque River near Demorest, Ga . .....................

3 Chattahoochee River near

4 Chestatee River near

150

156

315

153

1940-63 1946

1870-1963 1949

1958-63 1962

1907-63 1907 1929-32, 1946 1940-63

12

13

12

12

13.6 14.8

28.5 20.27

16.2 20.6-

225 22.1

24.53

14,10016,200

21,000 12,200

17,800 24,800

(3) 15,300

21,700

U.10

20

»1.10

11.45

Mobile River basin

5 Etowah River near Dahlonega, Ga

6 Etowah River near Dawson-

7 Shoal Creek near Dawsonville. Ga ...

68

103

20.5

1950-63 1962

1940-63 1961

1959-63 1961

12

12

12

13.9 11.76

16.18 15.62

7.60 11.85

9,000 3,000

5, 010 4,810

2,380 6,160

2

3

11.29

Wheeling Creek basin

8 Wheeling Creek at Elm Grove, W. Va... __ .... _ 282 1941-63 1942

513.67 13.5

22,100 21,500 40

Captina Creek basin

9 Captina Creek at Armstrongs Mills, Ohio 135 1927-35, 1935

1959-634

14.40

"13.86

10,500

11,800 11.19

Middle Island Creek basin

10 Middle Island Creek at Little, W. Va 458 1875-1922 1875

1915-22, 1950 1928-63

6

33.5 28.0

25.62

(3) 25,000

24,800 28

Ohio River main stem

11 Ohio River at St. Marys, W. Va_ _ _________________ 26,850 1884-1963 1913

1938-63 194354.2

5 46. 67(3)

421.000


SUMMARY OP FLOODS

TABLE 6. Flood stages and discharges, March, Alabama Ohio Continued

B33

to West Virginia and

Maximum floods


Drainage area

(sqmi)

Prior to March 1963 N

Period Year

[arch 1963 height

(feet)

Discharge

Cf<Recur rence

interval (yrs)

Little Muskingum River basin

12 Little Muskingum River at Bloomfleld, Ohio......... 210 1959-63 1959 ..

524.16 28.08

9,700 .21,200 > 1 .5

Muskingum River basin

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

Conotton Creek at Jewett, Ohio... .....................

Stillwater Creek at

North Branch Kokosing River near Fredericktown, Ohio........................

Kokosing River at Mount

Kokosing River at Mill wood, Ohio...--. ..................

Mill Creek near Coshocton, Ohio.........................

Wills Creek at Cambridge, Ohio- .-........-.... ...

Salt Fork near Cambridge, Ohio .-..- ---. --.-.

Wakatomika Creek near

Log Pond Run at Newark, Ohio... ......................

Licking River near Newark, Ohio.........................

14.1

367

45.0

200

454

27.2

406

55.6

140

5.02

536

1947-63

1913 1922-63

1953-63

1922-63

1937-63

1935 1926-28, 1937-63

1957-63

1937-63

1940-63

1952 ._

1913 ..1935 ...

- 1959 ._

1959 ...

1959 ...

1957 ...

1935 ...1QJ.C

1959 ...

1959 ...

4

6

4

4

5

4

6

5

5

4 .

5

16.30 14.84

15.5 12.8 10.30

13.46.83

18,19 12.99

34.00 20.79

12.73 11.54

25.4

'20.95

11.2 11.90

13.15 12.60

20.3 18.09

1,060 .1,170

7,650 .«5,990

2,430

38,000 -10,100

75,900 -25,600

7,650 -4,810

c:«7,600

1,960 -3,890

13,700 ..12,400

619

45,000 -.30,400

17

(')

3

9

27

i 1.

c.10

37

30

60

Little Eanawha River basin

24 Hughes River at Cisko, W. Va ........................ 452 1915-22,

1928-31, 1938-63

Hocking River basi

25

26

27

Hunters Run at Lancaster,

Hocking River at Lancaster, Ohio... ......................

Little Rush Creek near Rushville. Ohio.. ............

10.0

48.2

30.1

1948 1956-63

....do

1956-63

in

1948 ...

. 1961 ...

1961 ...

5

4

4

4 .

32.69 31.35

15.4

6.03 .7.09

13.70 15.36

25,900

11,200 .-

8 3, 420

5.140

36

(»)

U. 14



TABLE 6. Flood and discharges, March, Alabama to West Virginia and Ohio Continued

Maximum floods


Drainage area

Prior to March 1963 H

Period Year

ilarch 1963

Discharge

height (feet) Cfs

Recur rence

interval (yrs)

Hocking River basin Continued

28

29

30

31

32

Clear Creek near Rockbridge,

Hocking River at Enterprise,

Sunday Creek at Burr Oak, Ohio ... ._.--... _-.__ -.

Sunday Creek at Glouster, Ohio ------------- -------

Hocking River at Athens, Ohio _- _- -_____ .

87.7

460

57.0 '24.2

104

944

1940-63 1948 _.

1907 1907 ..1930-63 1940 ..

1952-63 1961 ..

1907 1907 ..1952-63 1961 ..

1907 1907 ..1915-63 1945 ..

4"

5

5

5

6

17.68 13.68

22.0 19.94 19.24

691. 50 692. 72

22.0 15.40 17.81

26.7 23.0 23.10

16,000 7,170

36,000 25,200 16,600

« 2, 370 « 3, 690

« 2, 850 7,020

50,000 30,400 27,700

20

22

< >

(3)

21

Kanawha River basin

33

34

35

36

37

38

39

South Fork New River near

Buffalo Creek at Warrens- vllle.N.C ---------------

Camp Creek near Camp Creek, W. Va ..-. ...

Bluestone River near Pipestem, W. Va. -------

New River at Hinton, W. Va

Big Coal River at Ashford, W. Va...... --.- -- -

Little Coal River at Danville, W. Va - -. -----

207

23

32.0

363

6,257

383

270

1916-63 1940 ..

1940, 1940 .1955-63

1946-63 1957 ..

1908-63 1957 ..

1936-63 1940 _.

1908-16, 1916 ..1930-63

i trtft_fi^ i Q7o

13

12

12

12

12

12

12

22.50 7.60

27

15.94

6.35 6.33

14.49 14.00 18.97 8.14

35.66

25.8

30.2 25.86

52,800 6,400

8,400

2,000

3,410 3,380

16,100 15,000

246, 000 54,200

35,800

24,800

42,800 23,500

2

5

43

11

(3)

24

11.08

Racoon Creek basin

40

41

Sandy Run near Lake Hope,

Raccoon Creek at Adamsville,

4.99

587 1007 1QQ7

1939-63

4

8

8.41 7.68

25.2 24.92

24.52

3,770 2,370

15,500

12,800

W

7

Guyandotte River basin

42

4344

45

Guyandotte River at Pineville. W.Va------....-..-........

Clear Fork at Oceana, W. Va_. Guyandotte River near

Little Huff Creek near Justice, W.Va.-----.----.-....-.....

93.9 .

512

40.9 .

1212

12

12 .

15.5

27.0

23,000 10,100

38,000

5.090

11.09 50

11.10

32



TABLE 6. Flood stages and discharges, March, Alabama to West Virginia andOhio Continued

Maximum floods


Drainage area

(sq mi)

Prior to March 1963 H

Period Year

larch 1963

Gage height (feet)

Discharge

Recur- Cfs rence

interval (yrs)

Guyandotte River basin Continued

46

47

48

49

50

51

Guyandotte River at Man, W. Va.... ...........

Guyandotte River at Logan, W. Va---------- --..

Island Creek near Logan, W. Va.

Copperas Mine Fork near Logan, W. Va.-_. . __

Guyandotte River at Branch- land, W. Va--.. -.-

Mud River near Milton,W. Va. ....

762

836

53.6

14.4

1,226

256

1928-63 .....do. .

1907 1915-22,

1929-63 . .do.... .

1938-63 .do

1934 _.

1907 1955

1957

1939 .. 1962

12

12

12 .

12

13

12

24.78

34.98

44 8 42. 57

43.83

29.35 .

18.59

40,000 . _ . ...

49,000 '1.06

55,000 '1.12

4, 250 20

1, 750 (3)

43,500 ..

40, 400 .. 44, 500 27

15, 100 . ". .. 5, 270 <2

Ohio River main stem

52 Ohio River at Huntington,W. Va. . . . ... ... . 55,900 1935-63 1937 y 5 69. 45

5 55. 20654,000 ... .....468, C"0 ( 3 )

Twelvepole Creek basin

53 Twelvepole Creek at Wayne, W. Va 291 1939

1915-22, 1929-31, 1947-54, 1956-63

1939 _.1962 ..

13

31.03 29.46

18.28

22.COO ........ .15, POO ..........

6,270 <2

Big Sandy River basin

54

55

56

57

58

59

60

61

Levisa Fork near Grundy, Va... . . .

Levisa Fork at Fishtrap, Ky___

Russell Fork at Haysi, Va. ....

North Fork Pound River at Pound, Va...................

Russell Fork at Elkhorn City, Ky._.. ......................

Levisa Fork at Pikeville, Ky. .

Right Fork Beaver Creek at

Left Fork Beaver Creek at Price. Ky.... ..............

235

386

286

18.6

554

1,237

126

33.0

1942-63

1862-1963

1926-63

1957, 1962-63

1957-63

1862, 1903, 1908-63

1927-63

1957 ._

1957 ..

1957 ..

1927 ...

12

12

12

12

12

12

12 .

12 ..

919.06 18.19 33.9 31.91 23.17 21.10

19

16.70

24.21 21.73 52.72

50.00

0°) -

33,200 ........24, 100 15 33,000 .........30, 400 16 46,f<X) ..... ....33, 800 27

(3) ..........

4, 480 (3)

51,200 ........ .41, £<X> 20 85,500 ..........

76, 000 21

25, 300 1 1. 47

6. 210 33




Maximum floods


Drainage Prior to area March 1963 March

(sqmi) 1963

Period Year

height (feet)

DischargeRecur-

Cfs rence interval

(yrs)

Big Sandy River basin Continued

62 Levisa Fork at Prestonsburg, Ky.. ...... ..................

63 Johns Creek near Meta, Ky. . .

64 Johns Creek near Van Lear,

65 Paint Creek at Staff ordsville, Ky.. .. ... .....

66 Levisa Fork at Paintsville, Ky...... .................

67 Tug Fork at Litwar, W. Va_ . -

68 Panther Creek near Panther, W. Va. ... ...... . .....

69 Tug Fork near Kermit, W. Va.

70 Big Sandy River at Louisa, Ky__ ... .......

71 Blaine Creek at Yatesville, Ky...........................

1,701 1862 1862 ........1957-63 1957 ........

.-.._.--........_. 1355.8 1941-63 1957 ........

206 1940-63 1946 ............do...... 1957 .... ..... ....... _ ._ 13....... ... 18

103 1950-63 1961 ......... . ... . 12

2, 143 1862 1862 _ _ _ 1915-16, 1957 ....

1929-63 .... ... ..... . 14

502 1930-63 1957 .. ........ ...... 12

30.8 1946-63 1957 .. . ...... ..... .... . 12

1,185 1934-63 1957 ..... . ... ..... . 13

3,892 1939-63 1955 ..........do...... 1958 .. ...

.... . 14

217 1915-20, 1962 ._ .....1938-63

................ 12

49.4 48.78 47.3 14.54 17.38

8 27. 88826.10

31.4117.77

46.6 45.92

44.20 21.60 17.89

9.50 10.67 43.88 45.65

46.37 5 44. 71

29.64

17.50

(3) ..-..-....

69,700 ..........57,000 3 4,680 ..........7,380 »1.06

8,350 ..------.

8 3, 400 (3)

17,400 ..---. ...5, 030 <2

C 3) ... -69,700 ...... ...

58. 100 15 35.700 ..... ...28, 300 20

3,600 .... 4, 570 50

61, 300 .. - ... 69, 600 ' 1. 59

89,400 -----

" 78,"400" " 9

21,000 ..........

5,050 <2

Little Sandy River basin

72 Little Sandy River at Leon, Ky._ ... . ........ .

73 Little Sandy River near

74 Tygarts Creek at Olive Hill,

75 Tygarts Creek near Oreenup, Ky.. ........................

255 1962-63 1962 .....__.._._-..____...- 12

402 1884-1963 1950 ......... .... . . 12

59.6 1957-63 1958 . . ...do.... 1962

. . . 12

.... 13

31.0 23.67

5 27. 53 20.82

14.20

15.01

21.38 17.10

10,800 ........6, 180 <2

24,500 ..... ....9,380 <1

8,' 970 '1.69

14,800 . _- 6,900 <2

Scioto River basin

76 Scioto River below O'Shaughnessy Dam near Dublin, Ohio.. . . ......

77 Olentangy River near

988 1913 1913 .... 1921-63 1959 .... ..... 5...... . 6

493 1956-63 1959 ..... .............. . 4

24.6 22.04

< 14. 74

15.68 11.68

74,500 ...... ...8 55, 200 .......

« 22, 700 >) "

816,500 __-......6 7. 340 (3)




Maximum floods


Drainage Prior to area March 1963 :

Period Year

March 1963

Gage height (feet)

Discharge

Recur- Cfs rence

interval (yrs)

Scioto River basin Continued

78,

79

80

8182

83

84

85

86

87

88

89

90

91

92

93

94

95

Scioto River at Columbus, Ohio..... . . ... .........

Scioto Big Run at Briggsdale, Ohio... . ..-.

Big Walnut Creek at Central

Alum Creek at Africa, Ohio---. Alum Creek at Columbus,

Ohio...... .............

Bi? Darby Creek at Darbyville, Ohio...--.. . ..

Deer Creek at Williamsport, Ohio.. ................

Scioto River at Chillicothe, Ohio.

East Pork Paint Creek near Sedalia, Ohio.

Paint Creek near Qreenfleld, Ohio.

Paint Creek at damsite near Bainbridge, Ohio.

Rocky Fork near Barretts Mills, Ohio.

Paint Creek near Bourneville, Ohio.

Indian Creek at Massieville, Ohio.

Scioto River at Higby, Ohio...

West Branch Tar Hollow Creek at Tar Hollow State Park, Ohio.

Tar Hollow Creek at Tar Hollow State Park, Ohio.

Salt Creek near Londonderry, Ohio.............. ........

1,624 1913 1921-63

11. 0 1947-63

190 1938-63

120 .. - ......

190 1923-35, 1938-63

533 1922-35, 1938-63

331 1927-35, 1938-56, 1959-63

3, 847 1913 1921-63

4. 23 1947-63

251 . 1926-35, 1940-56, 1959-63

573 _.._._.__._.

141 1940-63

808 1922-63

9. 71 1947-63

5, 129 1913 1931-63

. 30 1950-63

1. 35 1947-63

267

1913 1959 -

1959

1959 .

1959 .

1959

1959

1QCQ

1959

1959 -

1945 .

1945 -

1953 .

10191Q37

1QCQ

1QCQ

5

4

55

5

6

5

6

4

5 5

4 ------

4

6

4

4

5

11 25. 9 27.22 23.47

12.09 10.3

19.75 12.07 14.2

19.59

15.17

17.94

13.92

17.6

17.5 39.8 32.50 25.25 14.47 14.49 11.0

12.2 26.5

15.56 12.44 19.2 20.08 16.95 17.81 31.6

526.4 23.55 5.72 5.87

5.62 5.3

22.7

138,000 ....66F.200 .... 634,600

2,920 ... 2,260

6 2?, 800 ....6 5, 910

6,460

26,400 ...

12,500

49,000 ....

17,600

39,600 ..

37 , 600 26(1000 _.-.

6 14* 000 ....6 77, 000

515 _...462

14,500 _.-.

15,600 4?. 300

13,200 _...« 7, 170 53,100 _.-.

6 53, 700 5,640 .-_.4,510(3) ....

177,000 ....6 10" 000

42 .._.62

374 ....251

3',600

W

7

44

6

11.10

.(3)

23

21

"28""

U.08

( 3)

(3>

20

11.96

Ohio Brush Creek basin

96 West Branch Turkey Run. 89 1956-63 1956 .

1919.3 13.69

720 ....301 ( )




Maximum floods


Drainage Prior to area March 1963 M

Period Year

[arch 1963 height

(feet)

Discharge

Recur- Cfs rence

interval (yrs)

Little Miami River basin

97

98

99

100

101

102

103

104

Little Miami River near

Massies Creek at Wilberforce,

Little Miami River at Spring

Caesar Creek at Harveysburg,

Little Miami River near Fort

Todd Fork near Roachester,

Little Miami River at Mil- ford, Ohio. .......---...-..-.

East Fork Little Miami River at Williamsburg, Ohio. ..

129 1952-63

64. 3 1953-63

361 1926-35, 1940-52, 1959

202 1959-63 1961-63

677 1939-52, 1959

219 1953-63

1, 195 1913 1915-20, 1925-63

238 1949-53, 1959-63

1959 ...

1959 ...

1959 ...

1959 ...1961 ...

1959 ..

1959 ...

1913 ...1959 ...

1959

4

4

5

5

5

4

5

5

12.20 12.18

11.25 11.25

19.0 19.14

20.5 14.35 15.63

21.9

20.2

19.50 18.82

25.5 22.30

19.23

12.2

14.34

14,800 ..14,600

7,300 ..7,300

36,400 -38,000

12,900 ..14,900

67,000 ..

54,000

25,500 ..20,600

84,100 ..

59,300

14,000 .

18,000

11.

11.

i 1.

19

il.

il.

34

52

27

88

29

10

Licking River basin

105 Licking River near Salyers- ville, Ky... . .... 140 1939-63 1939

1225.4 20.52

14,300 6,230 5

Great Miami River basin

106

107

108

109

110

111

112

Stillwater River at Engle- wood, Ohio.. . .

Mad River near Urbana, Ohio ... ...

Beaver Creek at Brighton, Ohio.-.

Buck Creek at Springfield, Ohio... ......................

Mad River near Springfield, Ohio... .... .. .. ..

Mad River near Dayton, Ohio.

Great Miami River at Dayton, Ohio..... . ...

646 1913 1926-63

162 1926-31, 1940-63

3. 33 1961-63

139 1913, 1915- 21, 1924- 63

490 1904-05, 1913-63

635 1913-63

2, 513 1893-1963

1913 . 1958

1959

1961 .

1929 .

1913 ..

1913

1913 ..

6

5

" ~4

4

5~

5

6

80.88 79.09

12.05

11.84

9.77 11.28

14.3 11.20

16.9 14.43

914.0 86.21

929.0 33.74

85, 400 . « 9, 980 . « 9, 370

8,000

7,660

156 430

13,000 10,400

55,400 . 22,400 75,700 ..

« 18; 500

250,000 .« 47. 500

22

l 1.

27

(3)

04




Maximum floods


Drainage Prior to area March 1963 IV

Period Year

larch 1963

Gage - height (feet)

Discharge

Recur- C 'i rence

interval (yrs)

Great Miami River basin Continued

113

114

115

Great Miami River at Miamisburg, Ohio.-..

Twin Creek near German-

Sevenmile Creek at Collins- ville, Ohio....... ___ -.-.-.

2, 718 1913 1916-20,

1925-35, 1953-63

275 1913-23, 1927-63

121 1913 1959-63

1913 .

1959

1913 ._

1913 ..1959 ..

6

5

4

20.65 19.36

»18.3 28.33

14.6 11.08 9.68

257,000 -.

6 61. 800 . . 653 200

66,000 ..« 8 400

(0 -16,600 _.11,400

-»

( 3 )

9

Kentucky River basin

116

117

118

119

120

121

122

123

124

125

126

127

North Fork Kentucky River at Whitesburg, Ky ...... ... .

North Fork Kentucky River

Bear Branch near Noble, Ky_.

Troublesome Creek at Noble, Ky.... ............

North Fork Kentucky River

Middle Fork Kentucky River

Cutshin Creek at Wooton, Ky.



South Fork Kentucky River

South Fork Kentucky River at Booneville, Ky... _ ......

Kentucky River at lock 14 at Heidelberg, Ky... ...........

66. 4 1957-63

466 1940-63

2. 21 1955-63

177 1939 1950-63

1, 101 1905-07, 1917-21, 1927-31, 1935-63

....do......

202 1957-63

61. 3 1957 1958-63

420 1957-63

537 1929, 1931- 32, 1935, 1937, 1939-63

486 1957-63

722 1925-31, 1937, 1939-63

2, 657 1921-63

1957 ..

1957 ..

1962 ._

1939 -_1962 ._

1939 _-1957 ..

1957 --

1957 -.1959 ..

1957 --

1957 _.

1957 -.

1957 ..

1939 ..

12

12

11

12

12 _13

12

12

19

12

12

12 .13

13

14.713.05

37.54 35.00 3.36 3.23

29 26.86 29.75

43.10

37. 17

33.326.13 19.43 9.60

16.23

43.1 13.76

43.3322.86

40.19 36.89

543.40

39.85

35.625.87

7,730 _.6,240

47,800 ._43 700

415 .-382

18 300 __22,800

53 500 ..43 400

60,000 ..37,400

4 840 ._14 200

82,300 ..66,200

52,700 ..6 7, 320

53 000 ..43 800

48 800

120 000 ..« 69 400

5

50

3

11.04

3

11.56

i 1.40

( 3)

39

18

(')




Maximum floods


Drainage area

(sq mi)

Prior to March 1963

Period Year

March 1963

Discharge

height(feet)

Recur- Cfs rence

interval (yrs)

Kentucky River basin Continued

128

129

130

Red River near Hazel Green, Ky

Stillwater Creek at Stillwater, Ky

Red River at Clay City, Ky...

65.8

24.0

362

1954-63

1954-63

1931-32, 1937-63

1962 _

1962

1962

12

11

13

22.12 9.66

17.43 10.82

23.90 17.75

9,080 ..2,780

7,390 ..2,610

22,600 ..8,480

<2

10

<2

Cumberland River basin

131

132

133

134

135

136

137

138

139

140

141

142

143

144

145

Poor Fork at Cumberland, Ky

Clover Fork at Evarts, Ky__ __

Cumberland River near

Yellow Creek bypass at

Yellow Creek near Middles-

Cumberland River at Pine- ville, Ky --

Cumberland River near Pine- ville, Ky__ . ..

Cumberland River at Bar-

Cumberland River at Williamsburg, Ky__. ________

Cumberland River at Cum-

Cane Branch near Parkers Lake, Ky_ __________________

West Fork Cane Branch near

Helton Branch at Greenwood, Ky

Brimstone Creek at Walker

New River at New River.

82.3

82.4

374

35.3

58.2

676

809

960

1,607

1,977

.67

.26

.85

48.7

382

1940-63

1958-63

1940-63

1940-63

1941-63

1929-31, 1957

1929, 1939- 63

1946 1923-31,

1948-63 do

1918-63 1951-63

1916-63

1956-63

1956-63

1956-63

1954-63

1929 1935-63

1957 _

1962 .

1946 .

1946 _

1957 -

1946 _

1946 _1927 _

1957 _

1946 .1Q17

1918 -

1957 _

1957 _

1962 _

1957 _

1929 .1939 .

12

12

12

12

12

12-13

13

13

14

12

11

11

11

12

12

11.50 9.75 7.50

12.37

22.81 24.89

5.00 4.01

20.92 18.09

32.62

36.50

49.31

47.93

42.8

42.28 .41.43

34.2 33.78 29.19

15.5 11.78

4 2. 43 1.67

2.20 1.07

1.45 1.35

20.35 18. 32

33.58 29.06

11,800 _.8,740 6,550 ._

14,100

37,900 ..43,100

7,200 _.4,660

6,160 _.5,830

45,000 _.

57,900 ..

48,900

47,900 _.

45,600

(3 ) -49,700 ..36,800

59,600 _.38,800

198 _-127

129 -24

182 -130

(3)

7,100

74,700 _.44,300 _.35.300

9

39

30

10

6

<"

6

4

7

2

(3)

0

(3>

6

5

See footnote at end of table.



Maximum floods

No.1


Drainage area

(sqmi)

Prior to March 1963 !

Period Year

VI arch 1963

Gage height

(feet)

DischargeRecur-

C*'< rence interval

(yrs)

Cumberland River basin Continued

146

147

148

149

150

151

152

153

154

155

156

157

158

159

160

161

162

163

164

165

White Oak Creek at Sun-

Clear Fork near Robbins,

South Fork Cumberland

East Fork Obey River near

Puncheon Camp Creek at Allred, Tenn..... ..---_--.---

West Fork Obey River near

Big Eagle Creek near

Wolf River near Byrdstown,

Cumberland River at Celina,

Mathews Branch tributary

Roaring River near Hilham, Tenn.. ----_...---_.-.--.___-

Calfkiller River below Sparta,

Barren Fork near Trousdale, Tenn..... .................

Owen Branch near Center-

Collins River near McMinn- ville, Tenn.--. ---------------

Sink tributary at McMinn-

Charles Creek at Faulkner Springs near McMinnville,

Caney Fork near Rock

Cumberland River at Car-

Spring Creek near Lebanon,

13.5

272

954

202 ?196

15.5

1157 81

7.98

106

7,320

.49

78.7 '51.6

175 '111

126

4.60

642

.47

31.1

1,678

10,700

35.3

1929, 1932-63

1929 1931-63

1929 1943-63

1929 1943-63

1954-63

1943-63

1954-63

1929 1943-63

1793-1963 1923-63

1954-63

1932-63

1929 1941-63

1933-63

1954-63

1854, 1925-63

1954-63

1952 1954-63

1912-63

1793-1963

1954-63

1929 ..

1929 ..1939 ..

1929 ..1948 ..

1929 ..1948 ..

1955 ..

1955 -

1962 ..

1929 1957 ..

1826 ..1926 ..

1956 ..

1962 ..

1929 ..1949 ..

1948 ..

1955 -

1929 ..

1961 ..

1952 ...1955 ...

1929 ...

1926 ..

1962

11

12

12

12

17

17

17

12

17

17

17

12

12

12

12

12

12

12

17

16

17.45

13.36

«22.1 «18. 5

16.25

52.9 38.50 36.45

30.7 27.20 26.71

11.389.27

16.30 14.40

6.23 5.37

10.8 10.84 9.21

59.2 «57.25 « 27. 30

5.54 5.85

12.02 12.98

25.80 25.04

16.99 15.23

7.0 4.45

39.1

30.53

7.94 7.0

13.00 13.68

40.6 26.28

«59.8 « 32. 49

10.65 10.73

4.900 ... -..

2. 740 17

(>) ..........

25, 900 5

6f,600 _.. ..-62, 100 4

2f,300 ..-..-.-30, 800 19

15,100 ..........12, 100 9

1,170 ....... 1, 000 (>)

(>) ..........2^,600 ..........13,800 7

145,000 ..........« 49, 300 (')

297 (')

8,530 ..........9, 770 42

25,000 ..........14,600 .. -.---13, 500 (3)

33,000 .-..- .23, 900 29

2,860 ..... -.

7.' 300 ..........

43, 400 8

520 .. ..438 («)

23,100 ..........Q QRfi

n, soo 1 1. 59210,000 ..........« 9«, 500 (3)

211,000 ..........« 83, 400 (')

9 1409. 330 1 1. 38




Maximum floods


Drainage Prior to area March 1963 ]V

Period Year

larch 1963 height

(feet)

Discharge

Recur- Cfs rence

interval (yrs)

Cumberland River basin Continued

166

167

168

169

170

171

172

173

174

175

176

Spencer Creek near Lebanon,

Cedar Creek tributary at

Drakes Creek above Hendersonville, Term. _

East Fork Stones River at

Bradley Creek at Lascassas, Tenn.. ...._

East Fork Stones River near Lascassas, Tenn ... ___

West Fork Stones River near Murfreesboro, Tenn_ - - .

Stones River near Smyrna, Tenn__ - _..

Stewart Creek near Smyrna, Tenn__- .. __...._..

Stones River above Donelson, Tenn_- _ .. . .... .

Mill Creek near Antioch, Tenn--. - - .. . ......

3. 32 1954-63

. 86 1954-63

19. 2 1954-63 - do - -

39.1 ... _.

37. 0 1954-63

262 1902-63

128 1902 ' 125 1932-63

571 1902 1925-63

69. 7 1952-63

830 1902 1939-63

64. 0 1953-63

1957 ..

1957 ..

1957 --1962 ..

1955

1955 ,

1902 -.1948 .

1902 ..1948 -

1955

1902 .. 1948 _

1955 -

16

16

16

11

if

""12"

12

12

11

12 13

~~~11

8.4 7.64

5.4 4.67

5.55 _

12 16. 52

10.66 10.03

34.07 34.22

25.0 22.73 19.80

43.4 41.03

5 34. 51

17.61 12.48

59.6 '58.46

49.30 .

19.73 14.80

2,220 ..1,540

331 -.263

3, 370

5,710

12,800 11,000

21, 300 - 21,500

50,000 .. 38,000 24,900

60,000 - 54,100 39,400

8,700 4,410

73,000 .- 68,700 39, 700

17,000 7,220

(3)

(3)

23

i 1.

3

"31

8

2

3

20

54

Tennessee River basin

177

178

179

180

181

182

183

184

Ivy River near Marshall, N.C.

French Broad River at Mar shall, N.C... ................

Brush Creek at Walnut, N.C. .

Big Laurel Creek near Stack-

French Broad River near

Cataloochee Creek near

Cosby Creek near Cosby,

Pigeon River at Newport, Terni... ........... .........

158 1934-63

1, 332 1791-1963

7.96 1954-63

126 1934-63

1, 858 1867 1901, 1903-

05, 1921- 63

49. 2 1934-52, 1963

10. 2 1958-63

666 1901-29, 1945-46, 1949-63

1940 . .

1916 ._

1954 _.

1957 -_

1867 __

1940 ..

1940 __

1959 __

1902 ._

" 12

12

12

6

13

6

12

12

12.67 14.35

22.0 11.10 15.23 16.82

8.15 9.20

24

19.25 16.75

7.01

8.08

4.59 5.06

21.4 15.36

8,880 ..13,300

115,000 ..37,800

1, 190 .1,400

7,700 ._9,940

110,000 ..

76,300 --60,600

3,390 ..

5,080

50,000 ..35.500

1 1.

14

»1.

11.

22

»1.

8

21

39

09

17




Maximum floods


Drainage area

(sqmi)

Prior to March 1963 I

Period Year

VI arch 1963

Discharge

height (feet)

Recur- Cf^ rence

interval(yrs)

Tennessee River basin Continued

185

186

187

188

189

190

191

192

193

194

195

196

197

198

199

200

201

202

203

North Indian Creek near

Nolichucky River at Embree-

Muddy Fork at Fairview,

Nolichucky River below

Lick Creek at Mohawk, Tenn..

Nolichucky River near

Little Pigeon River near

East Fork Little Pigeon River

Little Pigeon River above West Prong at Sevierville, Tenn........................

Hog Pen Branch near Gatlin-

West Prong Little Pigeon River near Pigeon Forge, Tenn........................

Little Pigeon River at Sevier ville, Term...................

French Broad River near

South Fork Holston River at Riverside, near Chilhowie. Va.. .........................

South Fork Holston River at Vestal, Va........ ...........

Middle Fork Holston River at Sevenmile Ford, Va _ ....

Corn Creek at Mountain City, Tenn..................

Roan Creek near Neva, Tenn.

Kopley Creek tributary at Butler, Tenn..... ...........

15.9

805

9.86

1,184

220

1,679

110

64.1

201

.61

76.2

353

5,101

76.1

301

132

5.34

102

.76

1945-57, 1959-63

1901-63

1954-63

1901 1903-09,

1919-25, 1946-63

1946-63

1901 1920-63

1954-63

1954-63

1954-63

1958-63

1946-49, 1954-63

1867-1963

1867 1946-63

1921-31, 1943-63

1932-63

1943-63

1959-61

1943-55, 1959-63

1958-63

1962 ..

1901 ..

1962 ..

1901 ..

1906 ..

1950 ..

1901 ..1940 ..

1957 ..

1961 ..

1961 ..

1961 ..

1957 ..

1875 ..

1867 ..1957 ..

1923 ...

1957 ...

1957 ..

1961 ..

1961 ...

1962 ...

12

12

12

13

12

13

12

12

12

6

12

12

12

12

12

12

12

12

12

4.39 4.64

12.76

6.51 5.00

38

»19.3 21.30 16.24 17.35

26 22.68 23.05

16.23 16.94

15.76 19.28

15.53 16.98

2.29 2.23

10.98 11.01

18 15.74

855 828.82 832. 20

9.0 6.82

15.35 13.12

10.75 6.08

2.93 4.05

6.56 7.92

1.78 2.21

559 ..619

120,000 ..47,900

(r(r

73,500 ..52, 100 10,700 ..12,200

85,000 ..61,900 ..60,700

9,910

5,140 ..7,950

15,700 ..23,500

6,400 ..6,450

55 000 ..36,900

160 000 ..647,500 ..6 64 300

6,000 ...2,520

15,100 ...11,000

7,680 ..5 800

363

4 040 ...4 560

(')

<2

38

(')

19

13

29

14

27

50

"

9

50

3

9

10

0

9

(»)


309-939 0-69-4


TABLE 6. Flood stages and discharges, March, Alabama to We** Virginia and0 hiO' Continued

Maximum floods


Drainage area

(sq mi)

Prior to March 1963 »

Period Year

li arch 1963

Gage height (feet)

Discharge

CfsRecur rence

interval(yrs)


204

205

206

207

208

209

210

211

212

213

214

215

216

217

218

219

220

221

222

Doe River at Elizabethton, Tenn........................

Watauga River at Elizabeth-

South Fork Holston River at

Horse Creek at Sullivan

North Fork Holston River

North Fork Holston River

Holston River at Surgoinsville, Tenn........ __ ...........

Surgoinsville Creek at Surgoinsville, Tenn. -.--.._-.

Big Creek near Rogersville, Tenn........................

Big Creek tributary near

Holston River near Knoxville,

Tennessee River at Knoxville, Tenn ___________ ....

Little River near Maryville, Tenn. ................... ....

Oconaluftee River at Cherokee N.C---..-.-----.-..........

Oconaluftee River at Birdtown, N.C. .............

Tellico River at Tellico Plains, Tenn. ............. ..........

Tellico River tributary at Tellico Plains, Tenn .....

Little Tennessee River at McGhee, Tenn __ .....

Island Creek at Vonore, Tenn.

137

692

1,935

33.9

222

672

2,874

4.38

47.3

2.00

3,747

8,934

269

131

184

118

.25

2,443

11.2

1901 1912-16,

1920-63

1901 1926-49,

1953-63

1926-63

1908, 1921- 63

1862 1932-63

1941-63

1954-63

1941-49, 1955-63

1954-63

1791-1963 1931-63

1867 1900-63

1875-1963 1951-63

1920-49

1945-46, 1948-63

1925-63

1958-63

1867 1905-63

1954-63

1901 ..1940 ..

1901 -.1940 -.

1940 ..

1957 ..

1862 ..1957 ..

1944 ..

1955 ...

1955 ...

1958 ...

1RA7

1935 ...

1867 ... 1902 ...

1875 ...1957 ...

1Q1A

1946 ...

1QC7

1867 ...1906 ...

1959 ...

12

12

12

12

12

12

13

12

12

12

12

12

12

6

6

6

12

12

12

6.75

7.31

21 20.87

10.70

9 18. 80 9.01

35.50

13.20

12.15

22.5 16.73 16.42

17.48 17.13

3.55 3.66

6.83

9.40

»7.52 6.06

41 » 20. 20

11.20

»45.0 »36.4 24.47

31.0 21.18 24.20

11.50 11.60

512.0

11.90

13.60 11.63

4.24 4.22

939.0 930.8

17.80 10.19 13.9

39,000 7,300

7,860

75,900 75,100

14, 500

68,800 24, 200

5,200

16,500

14,500

54,000 28,700 30,000

59,600 .« 59, 300

3,280 .

5,760

205

0) -62,900 .

« 31, 400

290,000 . 195,000 . 89, 200

19,600 .32,200

11,200 .11,400

15,000 .

15,000

17,500 .11,500

(3)

104,000 . 37, 800

1,810 .3.970

10

c,0)

11.21

22

13

(3)

(3)

11.06

4

(3)

(3)

28

14

14

8

(3)

(')

U.82



TABLE 6.1 Flood stages and discharges, March, Alabama to West Virginia andOh io Continued

Maximum floods


Drainage Prior to area March 1963 IV

Period Year

larch 1963

Gage height (feet)

Di-5harge

Recur- Cfs rence

interval(yrs)


223

224

225

226

227

228

229

230

231

232

233

234

235

236

237

238

239

240

241

242

Bat Creek near Vonore, Tenn.-

Sweetwater Creek at Sweet-

Sweetwater Creek near

Clinch River at Richlands, Va--------.-. ------------

Clinch River at Cleveland. Va--- ..-.. ---.

Guest River at Coeburn, Va.-.

Copper Creek near Gate City,

Clinch River at Speers Ferry,

Clinch River above Tazewell,

Powell River at Big Stone Gap. Va.. ...................

South Fork Powell River at

Powell River near Jonesville, Va.... .......................

Powell River near Arthur,

Coal Creek at Lake City,

Buffalo Creek at Norris, Tenn.

Bullrun Creek near Halls

Whiteoak Creek below Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Melton Branch near Oak

Poplar Creek near Oak Ridge, Tenn. -......__ ..... ....

East Fork Poplar Creek near

30. 7 1954-63

23.7 ............

62. 2 1954-63

139 1901 1946-63

528 1921-63

87. 3 1918 1949-63

106 1948-63

1, 126 1862-1963

1, 474 1862 1919-63

112 1918 1945-63

40 1918 1945-63

319 1918 1932-63

685 1826-1963

24. 5 1929, 1933, 1955-63

9. 45 1948-50, 1955-63

68. 5 1957-63

3. 62 1950-53, 1955-63

1. 48 1956-63

82. 5 1900-63 1961-63

19. 5 1944 1961-63

1962 ._

1957 _.

1901 _.1957 ..

1957 __

1918 ..1957 ...

1950 _.

1957 ...

1918 ...IQAfi

1Q1Q

1946 ...

1918 _.IQAfi

1929

1957 __

1957 ...

1950 ...

1961 ...

1928 ...1961 ...

1944 ...1OA9

12

12

12

12

12

12

12

12

13

12

12

12

13

12

12

12

11

11

12

12

11.59 15.92

92.44

9.96 11.90

21.3 19.3 16.09

24.40 22.70 16.7 14.20 15.87

13.0 13.14

33 29.93

24 21.00 22.27

15.7 9.8

13.72

11.2 8.0 9.94

3330.8 33.36

27.5 26.08

17.5 5.66

9.037.67

10.26 11.08

5.18 5.24

5.395.47

(») 20.68 22.38

(') 9.25

10.91

2,230 .5,060

3,410

2,3'0 ..3,5<*0

11,500 _9,6V} ..7,3'0

31,000 .27,200 8,3% ..6, 3% .7,720

6,800 ..6,9«0

58,00046, 800

66,010 ..51,100 _.56,700

33,000 ..16,500 ..23.700

6,000 .3, 1TO .4,8%

(») -30,000 .31, 1^

34,000 .30, fi^

8,400 ..4,r><)

1,1% ..722

3,360 _.6,2^

642 ..407

2^8 ..242

u 14, 000 _.4,?30 _6,rfiO

i<4,6O ..1,340 ..l,fM)

19

9

<2

8

18

31

14

16

15

11.24

8

16

14

'1.28

5

30

2

(')

2

3



TABLE 6. Flood stages and discharges, March, Alabama to West Virginia andO h io Continued;

Maximum floods


Drainage area

(sq mi) -

. Prior to March 1963 IV

Period Year

larch 1963 height

(feet)

Discharge

Recur- Cfs rence

interval (yrs)

Tennessee Biver basin Continued

243

244

245

246

247

248

249

250

251

252

253

254

255

256

257

258

259

260

261

262

Bear Creek near Oak Ridge, Tenn. -__--- __ -... ....

Rock Creek near Sunbright, Tenn.. __--_-__,-___._-__.__.

Emory River near Wartburg, Tenn_- --------------------

Obed River at Crossville, Tenn.. ....... ......... _ -

Little Obed River near Cross-

Obed River tributary near Crossville, Tenn ... .......

Daddys Creek near Hebberts-

Obed River near Lancing, Tenn.. ----_--.--__ _ .......

Emory River at Oakdale, Tenn.. -- - . .- ...

Whites Creek near Glen Alice, Tenn....--.. . ---.--. ...

Piney River at Spring City,

Ten Mile Creek near Decatur,

Sewee Creek near Decatur, Tenn... ----.. .. .. ..

Richland Creek near Dayton,

Turtletown Creek at Turtle-

Hiwassee River near McFar-

Toccoa River near Dial, Ga.._

Ocoee River at Copperhill, Tenn.-,--.- .. ,. .

Fightingtown Creek at

Davis Mill Creek at Copper- hill, Tenn ..... .- .

7.15

5.54

S3. 2

12.0

4.71

.72

139

518

764

108

95.9

26.4

117

50.2

26.9

1,136

177

352

70.9

5.16

1961-63

1954-63

1929 1934-63

1954-63

1954--63

1954-63

1956-63

1929 1957-63

1857-1963

1929 1935-63

1928-30, 1955-63

1954-63

1934-63

1903 1928-31, 1935-63

1934-63

1943-63

1906 1913-63

1903-13, 1919-25, 1943-63

1943-63

1940-41, 1949-63

1961 __.

1955 .-

1929 ...1939 -_

1955 -_

1955 ...

1955 -.

1957 ..

1929 -_1957 ..

1929 ..

1929 -.1957 .-

1957 _-

1957 ..

1946 -.

1903 ...1957 ...

1961 ..

1952 ..

1906 ..IQEO

lonft

1951 ..

1949

12

12

12

12

12

12

12

12

12

12

12

12

12

12

12

12

12

12

12

12

6.05 6.42

6.21 5.61

32 25. 62 21.84

8.78 8.80

8.00 7.42

6.03 5.37

13.15 13.23

33.918.95 22.40

42.329.10

27.1 25.1 17.33

18.00

13.83

13.75 14.07

23.97 22.81

10.2

9.02

6.71 5.93

10.426.98

is 18. 5 11.20 5.82

918.5 7.44

11.92 10.26

6.02

4.50

565 _-594

1,560 ..1,150

30,000 __18,700 -_12,500

980985

783

165

11, 100 ..11,200

40,600 _-53,100

If 5, 000 _-89,400

66,000 -.51,000 -15,200

37.200 _-

7,680

5,480 ..- 5,890

23,900 ..2C, 400

14,000 ..11,000 ..

?,660

935

22,500 --6 10, 700 1528,000 -.

3,290

35,000 -.67,880

5,420 ..4 090

3 950 ..

61,740

2

11

9

2

5

(3)

5

9

18

7

2

45

11.03

11

2

(3 )

<2

^

7

C)(See footnotes at end of table.


TABLE 6; Flood st and discharges, March, Alabama- to West Virginia- and Ohio Continued

Maximum floods

No.Drainage

Stream and place of area determination (sq mi)

Prior to March 1963 N

Period Year

larch 1963

D '"charge

height (feet) Cfs

Recur rence

interval (yrs)


263

264

265

266

267

268

269

270

271

272

273

274

275

276

277

278

279

280

281

282

283

North Potato Creek near

Ocoee River at Emf, Tenn..... 524

Ocoee River at Parksville, Tenn____ ....... ..... 595

Hiwassee River above

South Chestuee Creek near

Oostanula Creek at Athens, Tenn...... .................. 26.8

Oostanula Creek near Sanford, Tenn. _______________________ 57. 0

Hiwassee River at Charleston,

Brymer Creek near McDonald,

North Chickamauga Creek at mile 12.82, near Hixson, Term. 97. 6

North Chickamauga Creek at mile 6.29, at Hixson, Tenn.. _ 114

McWilliams Creek near

Little Brush Creek near

Sequatchie River near Whit-

Brown Spring Branch near

Little Sequatchie River near

Battle Creek near Monteagle,

Paint Rock River near Wood- ville, Ala. _._._____.. ..... 320

Big Huckleberry Creek near

Flint River near Chase, Ala. . _ 342

Tennessee River at Whites- burg, Ala....... ._......_..._ 25,610

1934-63

1913-63

1911-16, 1921-63

1954-63

1958-63

1955-63

1886 1900-02,

1920-39, 1963

1954-63

1959-63

1957 1959-63

1867-1963 1921-63

1954-63

1955-63

1936-63

1955-63

1929-63

1867 1925-63

1936 ...

1916 __.

1951 ...

1961 ...

1961 ...

1886 __

1932 ...

1961 ...

1961 ...

1957 __.1960 ...

1867 -..1957 ...

1957 ...

1957 ...

1942 _._1949 ...

1929, ...1954

1867 -.- 1957 _._

5

12

13

12 13

12

12

12

13

12

12

12

12

12

12

12

12

12

"fi-

12

12

14

7.2 4.97

13.7 10.40

20.22

16. 79

5 24. 63

25. 72

9.098.87

105. 71

9.38 12.62

34.0

28.58 25.61

6.50 6.03

671. 65

663.22

8.48 9.51

8.6 7.39 9.62

19 16.71 17.11

6.23 i fi 8. 56

98.86

9.09 12.20

20.84 _ 22.60

6.19 8.58

25.00

27.55

31.4 23.93 '

523.37 '

7,0^0 .«9'2

29,400 _e 16, 400

21, 700

6 16, 910

634,210 _6 34, 910

4,140 .3,750

6, 100

2,0« _6,840

70,000 .

6 55, 800 « 6 45,3-") _

25,200

15,300

O

2, eoo .1,980 _3,130

22,610 ..25,710

140 ..165

32,710

5,850 ..10,210

31,310 ..

46,710

773 ..1,470

42,010 ..

55,910

i 285. 000

( 3 )

( 3)

«(')

40

11.71

11.09

( >

i 1.07

8

0

50

12

12.46

50

"~~"iTo8

CO

i 1.22

4



TABLE 6. Flood stages and discharges, March, Alabama to We^t Virginia and Ohio Continued

Maximum flood's

No.1


Drainage area

Prior to March 1963 »

Period Year

£arch 1963

Gage height (feet)

Discharge

CfsRecur rence

interval(yrs)


284

285

286

287

288

289

290

291

292

293

294

295

296

297

298

299

300

301

302

303

304

305

Aldridge Creek near Farley, Ala.. ---------------

Indian Creek near Madison, Ala-... ...

Piney Creek near Athens, Ala.

Elk River near Pelham, Tenn.

Bradley Creek near Prairie

Elk River at Estill Springs, Term.. ...

Miller Creek near Cowan, Term. --------------

Boiling Fork Creek at Cowan, Tenn---.

BoDing Fork Creek above

West Fork Mulberry Creek at

Elk River above Fayetteville,

Norris Creek tributary near

Norris Creek near Fayette- ville Tenn

Bradshaw Creek at Franke-

Chicken Creek at McBurg,Tenn--. .--.- -..

Duck River below Man-

Garrison Fork at Fairfield,

Wartrace Creek at Bell

Duck River near Shelbyville, Tenn. _- .

Weakly Creek near Rover,

Big Rock Creek at Lewis-

East Rock Creek at Farming-

14.1

49.0

55.8

65.6

41.3

282

4.30

17.0

55.9 -

41.2

827

.03

42.6

36.5

7.66

107

66.3

16.3

481

9.46

24.9

43.1

1961-63

1960-63

1959-63

1952-63

1952-63

1921-63

1955-63

1955-63

1953-63

1842 1935-63

1955-63

1954-63

1955-63

1955-63

1902 1929

1934-63

1954-63

1954-63

1902 1929

1934-63

1955-63

1954-63

1954-63

1961 ..

1962 ..

1959...

1957 ...

1962 ..

1929 ..

1961 -.

1961 -

1957 ..

1842 -.1949 ..

1Qfi?

1957 ..

1955 ..

1955 ..

1902 ..1Q9Q1Q4&

1955 ..

1QKK

1902 -1929 ..1948 -

1955 ..

1955 -

1961 -

12

12

12

12

12

12

12

12

12

12

12

12

12

12

11

12

11

11

12

12

12

6

8.348.82

8.96 10.70 9.61

13.38 12.02 13.17

12.35 13.63

20.2 18.15

7.08 7.09

9.79 11.48

14.52

14.8 13.74

27.5 27. 14 27.05

5.82 5.77

12.2 11.50

16.38 14.97

6.66 7.19

23.223.2 18.93 17.40

23.1321.24

11.25 10.26

39.6 37.6 36.40 29.90

6.15 5.89

" 17. 62 10.32

14.11 12.08

2,050 .2,200

2,180 -8,170 3,670 .

12,900 4,950 -7,240

3,880 -4,950

22,900 .6 19, 100

2,240 -2,260

3,760 -4,590

11,100

12,800 -9,460

(3) -35,500 .

635,300

87 .75

14,300 -

12,600 -8,360

3,660 .4,510

50,000 -30,000 -23,000

25,300 -19,800

8,240 -5,920

70,000 -62,900 .31,300

2,330 -1,380

» 16, 700 .2,930

6.020

8

26

11.14

8

8

(3>

(3>

11.89

U.77

11.95

0

(3)

(3>

11.89

(3)

35

11.14

11.67

13

0

12

32



TABLE 6., Flood stages and discharges, March, Alabama, to West Virginia, and Ohio Continued

No.Drainage

Stream and place of area

Maximum floods

Prior to 1963 height

(feet) Period Year

Discharge

Recur- Cfs rence

interval(yrs)


306

307

308

Little Flat Creek tributary

Duck River at Columbia,

Rutherford Creek near

.63 1955-63 1955 ..

. 1,208 1905-08, 1948 ._1920-63

68.8 1954-63 1955 ..

...... 5.9812 5. 26

...... 51.75

14 37. 00

...... 24.3811 17. 13

3^2 ...302

61,100 ..

29,200

11,800 ...5,630

/3\

2

8

1 Ratio of peak discharge to 50-year flood. 5 Affected by dam failure.3 Unknown.4 Affected by backwater from ice.5 Did not occur simultaneously with peak discharge. 9 Regulated by reservoir or reservoirs.7 Contributing drainage area.8 Affected by backwater from other streams or from debris.9 At different site or datum.i" About 1 ft lower than that of March 1963.11 Before channel improvements and levee construction.12 Maximum known since 1902.13 At site 5.0 miles upstream; drainage area, 55.9 sq mi.14 At site 5.1 miles upstream.« Maximum known since about 1840.18 Affected by backwater from railroad bridge." Maximum known since 1856.

KENTUCKY

Peak discharges during the period March 11-14 approached the maximum of the period of record at many gaging stations in south eastern Kentucky. Maximum discharges occurred at five gaping sta tions whose records include those of the floods of 1957: Johns Creek near Meba (station 63), Tygarts Creek at Olive Hill (station 74), Troublesome Creek at Noble (station 119), Cumberland River near Harlan (station 133), and Cumberland River at Pineville (station 136). At most gaging stations in the area, peak stages were only 1 or 2 feet below the maximums, which occurred during the disastrous floods of January-February 1957 or other great previous floods, f-nd peak discharges were not much less than the maximum discharges of these floods. The area affected by the floods was about the same as that of the floods of January-February 1957.

Peak discharges on Levisa Fork and tributaries in the Big Sandy River basin were about equal to a 25-year flood. In Beaver Creek basin, where precipitation had been heavy, the discharge from a drainage area of 126 sq mi (station 60) exceeded a 50-year food. The maximum peak discharge of record on Johns Creek near Meta was also greater that a 50-year flood.


Rainfall amounts were moderate in the basins of the Little Sandy River, Tygarts Creek, and the Licking River. Peak discharges were not particularly large except in Tygarts Creek at Olive Hill where the discharge of 8,970 cfs from 59.6 sq mi wyas 1.7 times the 50-year flood.

The long-term gaging stations in the upper Kentucky River basin generally had peak discharges 10 to 25 percent less than in 1957. At four stations the peak discharges ranged from 1.0 to about 1.6 times a 50-year flood.

The discharge was moderate in Poor Fork (station 131; drainage area, 82.3 sq mi), the main headwater tributary of the Cumberland River. But owing to the large contribution from Clover Fork, the peak discharge in Cumberland River near Harlan (drainage area, 374 sq mi) exceeded all previously known peak stages. The high peak of Clover Fork and Martins Fork, the principal tributary of Clover Fork, flooded Harlan and nearby towns. Peak discharges on the Cumber land River at Barfoourville (station 138) and near Pineville (station 137), downstream from Harlan, were not of unusually Hgh recur rence intervals. Both peak stages were below those of 19-^-6, and the peak stage at Barbourville was 0.85 foot below that of the 1957 flood.

A rare condition developed along the Ohio River when the entire 980-mile reach from Pittsburgh, Pa., to Cairo, 111., crested during the short period March 20-22. and on March 21 all points were above flood stage. The river at Louisville, Ky., first reached flood stage on March 7 and remained above it for 21 days almost equal to the record of 22 days above flood stage in 1937.

OHIO

In southern Ohio the peak stages generally occurred March 4-6 and were due to 2 to 4 inches of rain that fell on snow-covered ground.

Discharges were high in the eastern part of the flood arer. The peak discharge on Captina Creek (station 9) exceeded all recordr since 1927 and was greater than that of the August 1935 flood. The peak dis charge of the Little Muskingum River was the greatest since at least 1913. Flood damage was minor.

In the Muskingum River basin, noncontrolled tributaries in the area of heavy rainfall had severe flooding but not as great as in 1913 and 1959. Some streams below flood-control dams had the highest stages since the construction of the dams. Stillwater Creek at Uhrichsville (station 14) had the greatest peak discharge since 7,460 cfs in 1937. The flood on the Kokosing River exceeded the 25-year flood but was well below that of 1959. The stage of Wakatomika Creek (station 21) was within half a foot of the 1959 stage, and the peak discharge of the Licking River near Newark (station 23) was equal to the 30-year


flood. Damage in the Muskingum River basin was widespread and exceeded $700,000. The 15 flood-control reservoirs of the Muskingum Conservancy District, operated by the Corps of Engineers, averted greater flooding by the Muskingum River. The Corps of Engineers estimated that reduction in stages on the Muskingum River by the reservoirs were 10.5 feet at Coshocton, 12 feet at Dresden, 11 feet at Zanesville, and 6.6 feet at McConnelsville. Reservoirs on Stillwater Creek and on Brushy Fork reduced the stage on Stillwater Creek at Uhrichsville an estimated 4.7 feet.

The floods in the Hocking River basin were the worst since 1945, and in the upper reaches of Rush Creek near Bremen, stages exceeded those of the 1913 flood. Bremen was isolated by floodwaters for a day. Athens, on the Hocking River (station 32), was the only city in Ohio to be appreciably damaged. The total damage in the Hocking River basin was about $1.8 million.

The upper Scioto River basin above Columbus did not have severe flooding, although Alum Creek at Columbus (station 82; drainage area, 190 sq mi) had an unusually high discharge of 12,500 cfs when compared to that of 6,460 cfs in Alum Creek at Africa (station 81; drainage area, 120 sq mi). The flood on the Olentangy River near Worthington (station 77), with the gates closed at Delaware Dam a short distance upstream, was high but was less than half that of the 1959 flood. The floods were more severe in the lower part of the basin. The stage on Deer Creek at Williamsport (station 84) was only about 0.1 foot lower than the 1959 peak stage, and the stage on Paint Creek exceeded all previous records. A resident reported that the 1913 flood stage had been exceeded at a point on Paint Creek between th°s mouths of Rattlesnake Creek and Rocky Fork, a few miles upstreTiii from Bainbridge near station 88. A washout of railroad tracks caused a train wreck near the mouth of North Fork Paint Creek, ^he peak discharge on Salt Creek near Londonderry (station 95) Avas extremely high, about two times a 50-year flood. Flood damage in the Scioto River basin totaled about $3.6 million, much of Avhich Avas concentrated in the Paint Creek area.

Stages in the Little Miami River approached those of 1959 upstream from Spring Valley and exceeded that of 1959 at Spring Valley (sta tion 99). Downstream from Spring Valley, stages \vere markedly beloAV those of 1959. In the East Fork Little Miami River, vhere the 1959 peaks had not been outstanding, the 1963 peaks were th°. highest since 1945. The small towns of MorroAV, Loveland, and Milford, at station 103, \vere extensively damaged, but because of the small popu lations the total dollar value Avas not great.

In the Great Miami River basin the 1963 flood was not outstanding except in the Mad River area. The flood stage of the Mad River near


Urbana (station 107) was only 0.21 foot below that of 1£59, and near Springfield (station 110) it was 1.33 feet below that of 1959. Elsewhere the floods caused widespread but modest damage. The five dams of the Miami Conservancy District prevented great flood damage except in the places where encroachments had been made on the flood plains.

WEST VIRGINIA

Severe flooding occurred in the western part of West Virginia during each of the three storm periods. In the Guyandotte and Big Sandy Eiver basins the floods of March 12 were the highest since at least 1915, and flooding along the main stem of the Guyandotte Eiver was the highest known.

Discharge hydrographs of the Guyandotte River (fig. 11) show the peaks from the three storms and also show the attenuation of the last two peaks as they moved downstream from Logan (station 47; drain age area, 836 sq mi) to Branchland (station 50; drainage area, 1,226 sq mi). The peak discharge of 69,600 cfs on March 13 in Tug Fork near Kermit (station 69) was the highest known during the period of record, 1934-63.

During the prolonged period of flooding in western West Virginia, five lives were lost, about 5,000 persons were forced to leave their homes, and property damage amounted to more than $15 million.

At Logan, West Virginia (drainage area, 836 sq mi)

At Branchland, West Virginia(drainage area, 1226 sq mi)

2 46 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 305 0

FIGURE 11. Discharges in the Guyandotte River for March 1963.


TENNESSEE

Two storm periods, March 5-6 and 11-12, produced high runoff from almost the entire State of Tennessee. The first storm produced rainfall of 2 to 6 inches over the eastern half of the State and causei floods on many streams that are tributary to the Tennessee River. In general, streams draining the western slopes of the Smoky Mountains had floods of the greatest magnitudes.

One week later the second storm, accompanied by tornadic winds, dropped 5 to 6 inches of rain over the same area in less than 24 hours. The severe flooding caused maximum peak stages and discharges in the period of record at many gaging stations.

Sevierville, at station 196, was isolated when the Little Pigeon River had its second major flood within a week, the greatest since the his torical discharge of 55,000 cfs in 1875. The peak discharge wr,s 30,300 cfs on March 6 and 36,900 cfs on March 12; these discharges were about 5 percent less and 15 percent greater, respectively,- than the previous maximum discharge during the period of gaging-station record which began in 1921. More than 200 persons were forced to leave their homes and flood waters up to 5 feet deep coursed through the town square.

The Clinch River above Tazewell (station 231) had a third peak on March 18, and each of the three peaks was greater than the mean annual flood (25,800 cfs). The March 13 peak discharge of 56,700 cfs was second only to the peak discharge of 66,000 cfs during the flood of 1862 (fig. 12).

The peak discharge (25,700 cfs) on March 12 in Sequatclie River near Whitwell (station 276) exceeded all previous floods since 1867. The Elk River above Fayetteville (station 294) crested at 35,300 cfs on March 12, a discharge which equaled the peak of 1949, and the stage was within half a foot of the 1842 crest.

In the early morning of March 12 an unprecedented flood discharge (32,700 cfs), 2.46 times a 50-year flood, swept down the Little Se- quatchie River near Sequatchie (station 278), claimed four lives, and caused enormous destruction.

The Little River near Maryville (station 216) crested at "2,200 cfs on March 12 and exceeded all previous floods since 1875. More than a hundred families were evacuated. The floodwater disrupted Mary- ville's water supply, destroyed the Tennessee Avenue bridge, and in undated the sewage treatment plant to a depth of 3 feet.

The severe flooding throughout middle and eastern Tennessee caused five deaths and severe property damage to homes, business establish ments, streets, highways, and bridges. Several railroads, Federal and State highways, and many county roads were inundated and closed to


60

50

30

20

< 10

1862 maximum

Drainage area, 1,474 sq mi

Mean annurl flood

2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30

MARCH

FIGUEE 12. Discharge in the Clinch River above Tazewell, Tenn., for March 1963.

traffic. On March 12 practically all highway traffic fron Knoxville was interrupted or detoured because of high water or w?,shouts. All land routes between Knoxville and Chattanooga were closed. The Tennessee Division of Water Kesources reported that more than 3,000 homes were damaged or destroyed, about 1,500 head of livestock were lost, more than 100,000 acres of winter crops were damaged, almost 500,000 acres of cropland were damaged, and 1,000 bridges were damaged or destroyed in 50 counties.

VIRGINIA

Floods in southwestern Virginia followed the rain of March 11-12. Floods in the Big Sandy Kiver basin were outstanding, but they were lower than the floods of 1957. Eussell Fork at Haysi (station 56) had a peak discharge on March 12 of 33,800 cfs, a recurrence interval of about 25 years, and Levisa Fork near Grundy (station 54) had a peak discharge of about a 15-year recurrence interval.

In general, the floods of March 12 in the Tennessee Kiver basin were the second highest in 100 years, being exceeded only by the floods of 1957. The peak discharge of 14,500 cfs on the North Fork Holston Kiver near Saltville (station 208) was less than the peak of 1957, but the daily mean discharge of 9,200 cfs on March 12 great)y exceeded


the previous maximum daily mean discharge of 5,500 cfs in 43 years of record.

The peak discharge (46,800 cfs) in the Clinch River at Speers Ferry (station 230) on March 12 was the greatest since 1862. The town of Coeburn (station 228) was flooded twice within a week when the discharge on March 12 in the Guest River exceeded all other peaks since 1918.

Seven counties in the southwestern corner of the State we^e desig nated disaster areas. About 5,000 persons were evacuated, p,nd flood damage was estimated at $6 million.

NORTH CAROLINA

Flooding in North Carolina was confined mostly to the Tennessee River basin.

On March 12, Brush Creek at Walnut (station 179) had a peak discharge of 1,400 cfs, a discharge greater than a 50-year flood. The peak discharge of 13,300 cfs on Ivy River near Marshall (station 177) had a recurrence interval greater than 50 years, and the peak discharge of 37,800 cfs on French Broad River at Marshall (station 178) had a recurrence interval of about 15 years.

Damage was light, being confined mostly to secondary roads and to short-duration flooding of low bottom lands.

ALABAMA

Heavy rainfall was associated with the two distinct storir systems that occurred over the northern part of Alabama during the period March 5-12. Rainfall ranged from 2 to 4 inches throughout the area on March 5-6. The second storm, accompanied by high winds and tornadoes, swept across the Tennessee Valley on March 11-12, pro duced up to 8 inches of rainfall, and caused outstanding floods on some streams.

The U.S. Weather Bureau station at Athens reported 7.M inches of rainfal on March 12. The highest recorded rainfall during a 24- hour period was 7.97 inches at Rousseau Hollow in the Paint Rock River basin. The Tennessee Valley Authority (1964) reported that the March 11-12 rainfall averaged 7.0 inches on the Paint Rock River basin and 6.5 inches on the Flint River basin.

The intense rains of March 11-12 produced record floods at several stations in northeastern Alabama. The peak discharge on the Paint Rock River near Woodville (station 280) was the maximum for 28 years of record and was almost 50 percent greater than the previous maximum, which occurred in 1942. The peak stage recorded at the Flint River near Chase (station 282) was 2.55 feet higher than the previous maximum stage in September 1929. The peak discharges at the stations on the Paint Rock and the Flint Rivers and en Piney


Creek near Athens (station 286) were estimated to have recurrence intervals in excess of 50 years. Maximum discharges of record also occurred on Aldridge Creek near Parley (station 284) ard on Indian Creek near Madison (station 285).

Flood damage to highways, bridges, and agriculture was estimated at more than $1 million.

GEORGIA

The flood area extended into a small area in northern Georgia in the upper parts of the basins of the Chattahoochie, Etowah, and Ocoee Rivers.

On the Chestatee River near Dahlonega (station 4) the peak dis charge of 21,700 cfs was the highest since 1907 and exceedei the 50-year flood. On the Chattahoochie River near Leaf (station 1) the peak discharge was the highest since 1940 and was also greater tl an a 50-year flood.

Damage, principally to county roads and bridges, was low.

FLOOD DAMAGE

The U.S. Weather Bureau estimated the total damage in the Ohio River basin from the March floods to have been $97.6 million, and 26 lives were lost. The States having the greatest estimates of losses were Kentucky, $37 million; Ohio, $22 million; West Virgina, $18 million; and Tennessee and Virgina, each $6 million. Est: mated dam age in river basins were Ohio River, $31 million; Big Sanc'y River, $20 million; Guyandotte River, $8 million; Great Miami and Little Miami Rivers, $7 million; Kentucky River, $6 million, Cumberland River, $5 million; and Scioto River, $4 million.

FLOODS OF MARCH 4^7 IN SOUTHERN INDIANA

Severe flooding occurred in the White River and the Whitewater River basins in Indiana (fig. 13) during the period March 4-7. At least two lives were lost, several hundred persons were evacuated from their homes, and property damage was widespread.

The flood resulted from heavy rains falling on deeply frozen ground that was largely covered with snow. The cumulative precipitation, March 4-5, ranged from 2.06 inches at Washington to 4.68 inches at North Vernon. Most of the flood area received about 3 inches of rainfall during March 3-6. The heavy rains that produced the floods of March 4-7 were the beginning of an extended period of precipitation that produced the wettest month at Indianapolis since Janury 1954 and the wettest March since 1904.

Maximum stages during periods of known floods ranging from 5 to 45 years in length were equaled or exceeded at three gaging stations (table 7). The locations of 34 flood-determination points are shown


in figure 13. The recurrence interval of the flood equaled or exceeded 50 years at six or more of these gaging stations, 25 years at 11 or more stations, and 10 years at 23 or more stations. At most sites, however, the March 1963 flood was considerably less than the great flood of 1913.

The peak discharge in Fall Creek at Millersville (statior 5), al though significantly controlled by Geist Keservoir, had a recurrence interval of 27 years. The recurrence interval of the peak discharge in the White River below the mouth of Fall Creek (station 6) ^as only 9 years.

The peak discharge (10,600 cfs on March 5) in Mill Creek near Cataract (station 16) was impounded in Cagle Mill Reservoir, and the mean daily outflow from the reservoir was reduced to 82 cfs. Although Big Walnut Creek and Deer Creek had peak discharges of exceptionally high recurrence intervals, that of Eel Piver at Bowling Green (station 19) was only 8 years.

86° 85"

39

IVERJ

11Flood-determination point

Number corresponds tothat in table 7

KENT' CKY

40 40 MILES

FIGURE 13. Location of flood-determination points for March 4-7 in southernIndiana.


TABLE 7. Flood stages and discharges, March 4~?> in southern Indiana

Stream and place of No. determination

Prior to March Drainage 1963

(sq mi) Period Year

Maximum floods

1963 height (feet)

Discharge

CfsRecur rence

interval (yrs)

Miami River basin

1 Whitewater Eiver near Alpine ...

2 East Fork Whitewater River at

3 Whitewater Eiver at Brook- vffle.. - -

539 1928-63 1937 ..

382 1954-63 1959 .

1,239 1913 1913 .1915-20,

1923-63 1959 _

_.---__ 16.615 16. 47

_-_._._ 16.505 15.1

_______ 39.0

.__.-__ 27.785 24. 91

37, 100 .35,900

36,100 28,000

(') -

81, 800 64,500

50

11

10

Hogan Creek basin

4 South Hogan Creek near Dillsboro..--- ___ ----------- 38.2 1959-63 1959 . ___.-__ 14.00

4 10. 8216,300 8,630 22

Wabash River basin

5 Fall Creek at Millersville- _______

7 Pleasant Run at Arlington Ave.,

8 Pleasant Run at Brookville Rd.,

11 Little Eagle Creek at Speedway,

12 West Fork White Lick Creek at

13 White Lick Creek at Mooresville.

15 B ig Walnut Creek near

313 1913 1913 .1929-63 1956 _

1,627 1913 1913 _1904-06,

193&-63 1937 _- do. -- 1943 .

7. 67 1956 1956 _1959-63 1961 -

10.3 1959-63 1961 _

102 1957-63 1957 _1QKQCQ IQ'.fi

179 1913 1913 1938-63 1957

18. 6 1959-63 1961

28.9 1957-63 1957

212 1957-63 1957 1958-63 1961

2, 435 1913 1913 1930-31,

1946-63 1950

338 1949-63 1957

241 1949-63 1960

. . 16.3_-._._- 13.53

6 12. 32 _______ 30.0

_-_-.__ 21.57 .

6 17. 55

_,-____ 16.0_______ 9.49

4 10. 32

8.184 9.22

._-__-- 19.20-___--. 13.22

4 12. 25 _______ 16.0

5 9.25 _ -.... 7.44

4 7.21

..--.--. 16.04 10. 12

-.-.-.. 22.5

4 22. 95 .-.--_. «22.8

... _ 517.25 16. 72

....... 18.634 17. 71

.-.-.-. 22.585 22.06

22,000 12,90011,000 70,000

37,200228,000

0) 1,360 1,610

1,560 2,010 0) 9,100 7,160 0)

28,800 8,840 1,940 1,830

6,660 2,700 (0

14,100 18,000 90,000

43,000 41,600

30,700 19,800 11,400 10.600

27

9

(')

0)

27

11

(»)

20

31.30

13

31.04

10



TABLE 7. Flood stages and discharges, March 4-7, in southern Indiana Continued

Maximum floods

No.Stream and place of

determinationDrainage

area (sq mi)

Prior to March 1963 i

Period Year

March 1963 height

(feet)

D '^charge

CfsRecur rence

interval(yrs)

Wabash River basin Continued

17

18

19

20

21

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

32

33

34

Deer Creek near Putnamville....

Big Blue River at Shelbyville.. .

Youngs Creek near Edinburg....

Flatrock River at St. Paul ...

East Fork White River at

East Fork White River at

Clear Creek at Harrodsburg.

Indian Creek near Springville.-..

292

59.0

844

187

425

109

462

1,054

298

1,692

88.8

156

2,333

11.7

87.3

201

55.2

60.9

1931, 1938-63

1954-63

1875 1931-63

1950-63

1913 1943-63

1942-63

1942-63

1913 1940-63

1913 1930-63

...do .....

1913 1947-63

1913 1948-63

1948-63

1913 1923-63

1955-63

1942-63

1939-63

1960-63

1950-51 1961-63

1950 ..

1962 ..

1950 ..

1959 __

1913 _.1949 ..

1952 ..

1956 ..

1913 ..1956 ..

1949 ..1959 ..

1952 _.

1913 ..1959 ..

1913 ..

1962 ._

1959 __

1959 ..

1960 ..

W --1962 ..

4 5 .

4

5

4

5

5

5

6

5

6

5

5

7

4

4

5

4

4

18.38 6 14. 92 _

15.05 12.95 30.0 23.53 22.04 13.28 14.62 20.2

8 17.00 17.70 13.4 12.43 18.38 16.43 20.3 16.80 16.97 20.5

11.34 .12.17

17.9 16.00 16.23 25.1 14.29 12.42 22.2 16.55

21.0 19.67 18.64 10.90 10.04 25.41 17.30 32.83 24.16 16.47 12.64 18.4 11.2311.60

8, 9"0

?82 10, 500 10,700

34,000 25, 500 8,3<'0 12,900 0)

14,810 15,810 10,710 8,2?0

27,600 17,?00

37,500 40,500

18, 500

17,100

100,000 48,700 52,300

11,300 7,760

19,900 9,450

120, COO 78,500 52, CX) 3,120 2, £40

26,200 9.S80

56, F<X) 24,500 10,200 5,860 0) 4,8005,120

31.

8

31.

9

43

10

33

11

2*

17

2

8

0)4

15

3 1.

32

97

03

-

13

1 Not determined.2 Flow regulated by reservoir.3 Ratio of peak discharge to 50-year flood.4 At Martinsville site, 8^ miles downstream at datum 17.72 ft tower. 6 At site y% mile upstream.6 Affected by backwater from Deer Creek.7 Mean daily discharge.8 At site \i mile upstream at datum 3.5 ft higher.

309-939 O - 69 - 5


FLOODS OF MARCH-MAY IN HAWAII

After WALTER C. VAXJDREY (1963)

Floods occur somewhere in Hawaii nearly every year. The floods of March-May 1963 were unusually large and caused g~eat damage to homes, highways, and other facilities in some areas.

Heavy rains occurred in the Koloa District, Kauai (fig. 14), on March 5 and 6; near Waimanalo, Oahu (fig. 15), on March 6, and near Hana, Maui (fig. 16), on March 13. In the March 13 storm, rain fall intensity at Hanahuli was 4 inches in 45 minutes. A rtorm of this intensity will occur in the vicinity of Hanahuli on an average of once in 35-40 years.

The month of April was extremely wet on Kauai and Oahu. The rain storm of April 12-16 was the culmination of an unusually long period (3 weeks) of cloudy and rainy weather. Such an extended period of rainy weather is rare in Hawaii, particularly over the leeward sec tions of the State.

159°20'

FIGURE 14. Location of flood-determination points, floods of March 6 and April 15, on Kauai, Hawaii.

158°

10'

158°

00'

157°40'

21 "40

21°20

Floo

d-de

term

inat

ion

poin

tN

umbe

r co

rres

pond

s to

th

at i

n t

able

s 8,

10, a

nd 1

1

FIQ

UKE

15. L

ocat

ion

of

floo

d-de

term

inat

ion

poin

ts,

flood

s of

M

arch

6,

A

pril

15,

and

May

14

,on

Oah

u, H

awai

i.


156°40' 30' 20' 10'

21°00'

156°00'

20°40


that in table 9

FIGURE 16. Location of flood-determination points, floods of March 13, onMaui, Hawaii.

The heaviest rainfall for the storm occurred in the Hakipuu-Kualoa- Kaaawa area of windward Oahu (fig. 15), and the greatest amount reported for the April 12-16 storm was 30.77 inches at an unofficial rain gage at Hakipuu Mauka. More than 18 inches of rain fell over most of windward Oahu during the 5-day period, and precipitation was generally less than 10 inches over leeward and central valley areas. The heaviest 24-hour rainfall recorded was 18.96 inches at Hakipuu Mauka; a storm of this intensity in this area has a recurrence interval of about 100 years (U.S. Weather Bureau, 1962).

Eainfall over Kauai was considerably less than it was in the areas of heavy rainfall on Oahu. The greatest rainfall reported for April 12-16 was 16.68 inches and for 1 day was 14.78 inches at North Wailua Ditch (fig. 14). The heaviest rainfall was probably in central and south-central Kauai, but no precipitation stations were in operation there to measure the amounts. The daily rainfall observed can be ex pected to occur, on the average, about once in 10 years. Precipitation over the western part of the island was less than 8 inches at most precip itation stations.

High-intensity rain fell on part of Oahu on May 14. An unofficial amount of 2.70 inches was reported in a clock-hour period. At Honolulu Federal Building 2.41 inches was recorded in the hour 1400-1500, which is the heaviest hourly rainfall of record for May since at least 1905.


Such an amount, although rare in May, can be expected to occur on the average about once in 20 years in other months. The daily rainfall amount of 3.08 inches at Honolulu was not unusual; however, it was the heaviest daily precipitation amount of record for May.

The storm of early March on Kauai and Oahu, which caused high peak discharges at only three discharge stations (table 8), damaged more than 100 homes on Kauai and damaged more than 100 homes and destroyed some livestock on Oahu. The peak stage on Makawac Stream near Kailua, Oahu (station 20), was only 0.05 foot lower than the maximum stage of record.

The cloudburst of March 13 on Maui (fig. 16) caused a flash flood in Koali Valley. Five streams overflowed their banks in the flood area in the easternmost tip of Maui. Peak discharges were exceptionally high (table 9). On Waiohonu Stream at Puuiki near Hana (station 4), the peak discharge was 13,800 cfs from a drainage area of 4.30 sq. mi.

TABLE 8. Flood stages and discharges, March 6, on Kauai and Oahi:, Hawaii


Drain- - age

area

Maximum floods

Prior to March 1963

Period Year

March 1963

Gage height (feet)

Discharge (cfs)

Kauai

..... 17.6 1912-16, 1962 ...1962-63

....... 15.20

6 18. 75

5,880

11,300

Oahu

21 Maunawili Stream above Kailua Rd.,

2. 04 1913-16,1958-63

5. 62 1958-63

1958 ...

1958 ...

..---. 9.08

6 9.03

....... 11.086 8. F5

2,140

2,140

2,5501,560

TABLE 9. Flood stages and discharges, March 18, on Maui, Hawaii

Maximum floods

No.

1

2

3

45


(!

Palikea Stream below diversion dam

Papaahawahawa Gulch at Muolea near

Waiohonu Stream at Puuiki near Hana. Kawainaoa Gulch at Hana. ...........

age Prior to area March 1963 I

Period Year

6.29 1927-29, 1955 ...1932-63

.43 1927-63 1937 ...

.95 ....................4.30 ....................5.83 ....................

bfarch 1963

13

13

13 ..13 ..13 ..

Gage height Discharge (feet) (cfs)

17.5 15,000

12. 68 9, 080 15. 74 3, 560 4. 65 1, 310

........ 3,690

........ 13,800

........ 3,670


The storm of April 12-16 caused major flooding in many streams on Kauai and Oahu (table 10). On Kauai previous maximum discharges were exceeded at the discharge stations on South Fork Wailua River (station 8), Hanapepe River (station 4), Makaweli River (station 3), and Hanalei River (station 14) in periods of record of 52, 41, 21, and 9 years, respectively. The relative magnitude and the frequency of the flood peaks of April 15, 1963, on South Fork Wailua River and on Hanapepe River are indicated in figure 17.

1 S8716050

40

30

Q 20

O oUJv>s '8H »uJ 6ti! 5

m R 3

6050

40

30

20 -

5 10

8

65

4

21.01

Peak of April 15, 196V

South Fork Wailua River near Lihue, Kauai (drainage area, 22.4 sq mi)

I I I

TTPeak of April 15, 1963-

Hanapepe River below Manuahi Stream near Eleele, Kauai (drainage area, 18.8 sq mi)

1.1 1.2 1.4 1.82 3 4567 8910 1.3 1.6

RECURRENCE INTERVAL, IN YEARS

20 30 40 50

FIGURE 17. Magnitude and frequency of the flood peaks of April 15 on South Fork Wailua River and on Hanapepe River. Kauai. Hawaii.


On Oahu, extensive flooding occurred from rains of April 12-16 that were intense for more tfhan 36 hours. Flooding was most severe on the windward side of the island (fig. 15). At Kahana Stream, near Kahana (station 28), 27.2 inches of precipitation was measured in 4 days, and the peak discharge was 5,430 cfs. Flooding at low elevations was gen eral in the storm area, and several gaging stations had maximum peaks of record (table 10). The peak stage on North Fork Kaukonahua Stream above Right Branch near Wahiawa (station 1) was about equal to a 40-year flood (fig. 18).

1.01 1.1 1.3 1.6 2 345678 910 1.2 1.4 1.8

RECURRENCE INTERVAL, IN YEARS

30 40 50

FIGTJKE 18. Magnitude and frequency of the flood peak of April 15 on North Fork Kaukonahua Stream above Right Branch near Wahiawa, Oahu, Hawaii.

TABLE 10. Flood stages and discharges, April, 15, on Kauai and Oahu, Hawaii

Drain- No. Stream and place of age area


Maximum floods

Prior to April 1963

Period Year

April 1963

OFKC heifht Discharge (feot) (cfe)

Kanai

1 Waialae Stream at alt 3820 ft near Waimea...............................

2 Waimea River near Waimea............

4 Hanapepe River below Manuahi

7 Waikoko Stream at North Wailua

8 South Fork Wailua River near Lihue- .

2.5

57.8

25

18.8

6.60

17.6

1.122.4

1920-32, 1952-63

1910-19, 1944-63

1943-63

1917-1920, 1927-63

1962-63

1912-16, 1962-63

1912-63

1921 ...

1949 ...

1952 ...

1949 ...

1962 ...

1963 ...

1955 ...

15

15

15

15

15

15

15 ..

15

8.44

5.23 19.3

9.99 11.19 12.25

11.74

14.87 7.70 9.16

18.75

19.82

11.52 22.90

4,530

1,750 37,100

7,490 13,600 15,900

24,400

39,000 1,900 3,170

11,300

13,200

4,020 46,700 87,300



TABLE 10. Flood stages and discharges, April 15, on Kauai and Oc>hu, Hawaii Continued

No. Stream and place of age area determination (sq mi)

Maximum flools

Prior to April 1963

Period Year

AprilQage

height Dischargeffaat. //>/«!-

Kanai Continued

9 South Branch of North Fork Wailua River near Lihue. ...................

10 North Fork Wailua River at alt 650 ftnear Lihue _ ----.........--.-----.--

11 East Branch of North Fork WailuaRiver near Lihue.. .._..-.-_-...__.__

12 North Fork Wailua River near Kapaa.

13 Left Branch Opaetaa Stream nearKapaa. ..............................

14 Hanalei River near Hanalei ..___._-_._-

15 Wainiha River near Hanalei -----------

1.55

6.6

6.2

18.7

.7

19.1

10.2

1915-63

1912-63

1952-63

1960-63

1912-19,1963

1953-63

1955 .._

1955 __.

1955 ._.

1960 ...

1914 __.

1959 __.

15 ..

15

15

15

15

15

15

13.5312.11

14.79.31

20.813.67

4.725.21

17.52

13.138.196.39

5,650

13,2009,870

(')6,540

53,20021,000

311365

21,700

34,70020,100

7,840

Oahn

1 North Fork Kaukonahua Streamabove Right Branch near Wahiawa. .

2 North Fork Kaukonahua Stream nearWahiawa. ...........................

3 South Fork Kaukonahua Stream atEast Pump Reservoir near Wahiawa.

4 Kaukonahua Stream at Waialua. ______5 Waikele Stream at Wheeler Field.... .

6 Waikakalaua Stream near Wahiawa- . -

7 Kipapa Stream near Wahiawa. ........

8 Waikele Stream at Waipahu.. _________

9 Waiawa Stream near Pearl City. ......

22 Kahaluu Stream near Heeia. ....__.-..

23 Waihee Stream near Heeia- ------------

24 Waiahole Stream at alt 250 ft nearWaiahole.. . .

25 Waikane Stream at alt 75 ft at Waikane .

26 Hakipuu Stream near Waikane _ .......27 Kaaawa Stream near Kaaawa. .........28 Kahana Stream at alt 30 ft near Kahnna.

29 Punaluu Stream near Punaluu..-.. . . _

30 Kaluanui Stream at alt 30 ft nearHauula. ________ _____________ ______

31 Opaeula Stream near Wahaiwa. _._____.

' Not determined.1 Different control.

1.38

4.86

4.04

38.75.93

7.14

4.29

45.7

26.4

.28

.93

.99

2.25

.781.643.74

2.78

2.12

2.98

1913-53,1960-63

1947-63

1958-63

1958-63

1958-63

1957-63

1952-63

1953-63

1936-63

1936-63

1956-63

1960-63

1915-17,1959-63

1953-63

1958-63

1960-63

1933 ._

1954 ...

1959 ...

1958 ...

1958 ...

1957 __.

1954 ...

1954 _-.

1937 ...

1958 _..

1960 ._.

1960 ...

1961 __.

1961 ___

1961 ._

1961 ...

15

15

1515 ..

15

15

15

15

15

15

15

15

1515 _.15 ..

15

15

15

15

11.7

12.46

15.5520.95

6.4011.33

19.810.3410.3116.59.57

11.5714.82

9.6519.2714.1625.47

3.425.696.06

4.324807.459.46

6.69

8.106.065.77

5.125.167.058.12

5,490

5,040

3,4004,660

1,9605,460

15,6001,8101,0101,0204,8202,3504,580

13,6007,250

1&, 9008.510

449477

1,1201,560

9672,2302,3704,5602,0304,2803,510

5,4302,9702,750

2,1702,4703,2202.260


The driving rainstorm of May 14, which dropped almost 6 inches of rain on leeward Oahu, inundated low-lying areas in Honolulu under more than 2 feet of water. Flooding in the Honolulu area was severe (table 11). Four persons lost their lives in the flood. Table 12 gives the amount of damage from the floods reported as estimated by the Corps of Engineers.

TABLE 11. Flood stages and discharges, May 14, on Oahu, Hawaii

No.

1

7

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

1617

18

19

23


(

North Fork Kaukonahua Stream above Right Branch near Wahiawa. .

Kalauao Stream at Moanalua Rd. at

Moanalua Stream at alt 100 ft near

Kalihi Stream at KalihL. ..............

Pauoa Stream at Lusitana St., at

Drain age area

[sqmi)

1.38

4.29

26.4

6.07

2.59

3.45

2.73

4.16

5.18

1.481.28

1.52

3.63

.93

Maximum floods

Prior to May 1963

Period

1913-53, 1960-63

1957-63

1953-63

1952-63

1954-63

1930-33, 1953-63

1926-63

1958-63

1960-63

1958-63

1958-63

1952-63

1936-63

Year

1933 ...

1957 ...

1954 ...

1960 ...

1960 ...

1932 ...

1930 ...

1958 ...

1960 ...

1960 ...

1962 ...

1958 ...

1963 ...

May 1963

14

14

14

14

14

14

14

14

1414 ..

14

14

14

14

Gage height Discharge (feet) (cfs)

11-7

8 97 9,57

12.29 19.27 18.18 9.49

(')

6,29 6.63

13.36

13.46 12,58 11,82

7.50 7.46 8,0 8 24

3 90 6 14

1,72 4,65 5,33 4.12 6 06

(')

5,490

2,890 2,350 5,680

16,900 15,500 4,320 5,320

1,790 2,580 6,650

5,620 4,580 3,370

2,720 2,670 6,350 6,330 1,590 1,160 2,500

251 2,200 3,250 1,670 1,560 1,130

'Not determined.

TABLE 12. Damage from the floods of March-May in Hawaii

Date of

13 East Maui- --------------------------------------

May 14 Oahu...... ---..---..-..-.-.....-.-----------....

Public

____...._._ $10,600........... 3,500__.__.-__._ 895,000..-._._._._ 143,000..._....... 137.000

Damage

Private

$30,6011,501

805,000349,001163.001

Total

$41,2005,000

1, 700, 000492, 000300, 000


FLOODS OF JUNE 1 NEAR SAN JOSE, N. MEX.

By G. L. HAYNES, JR.

An intense localized storm on June 1 caused flooding on the Pecos River and tributaries in the vicinity of San Jose (fig. 19). Local residents reported precipitation amounts up to 3 inches ne^.r San Jose, but a total of only 0.76 inch was recorded on June 1 and 2 at Ribera, the only U.S. Weather Bureau gage in the area.

Residents reported that the storm was between San Jose and San Isidro and moved northeastward, and the runoff pattern confirmed this report. Only a small area of the Pecos River basin was affected.

Extensive damage to cropland and irrigation works occurred. Stream crossings at Soham, San Jose, and Ribera were overtopped. No bridges were washed out, but some pavement was damaged.

Indirect measurements of discharge were made at four miscellaneous sites (table 13).

35°30'105°30'

EXPLANATION

3Flood-determination point

Number corresponds to that in table 13

FIGURE 19. Location of flood-determination points, floods of June 1, nearSan Jose, N. Mex.


TABLE 13. Flood discharges, June 1, near San Jose, N. Mex.

Maximum floods of Drainage June 1.1963

No. Stream and place of determination area(sqmi) Discharge Recurrence

(cfs) interval (years)

1 CowCreok

3 El Rito........... .......................

............. 130

... .-. . <2

............ 37.2

............. 579

1,420208

8,07011,400

4

21.8 12

1 Undefined.2 Ratio of peak discharge to 50-year flood.

The discharge on Cow Creek had a recurrence interval of only 4 years, which is an event of rather frequent occurrence. Evidently, only a few square miles of the lower part of the basin contributed to the runoff. The discharge of a small tributary to the Pecos River west of Soham was measured at U.S. Highway 84-85. Frequency relations are not defined for areas as small as the basin of the tribu tary. However, even if the relations were defined, it does not appear that the flood on this tributary was outstanding. The peak discharge on El Rito is computed as 1.8 times the 50-year flood. The U.S. Soil Conservation Service reported that field observations indicated that an area of 5 to 6 sq mi produced most of the runoff. As the indicated frequency is based on the total drainage area of 37.2 sq mi, the rain fall on the contributing area must have been extremely intense. The area is not inhabited, and therefore no rainfall data are available.

Peak discharge of the Pecos River at San Jose, below the contrib uting area, indicated a recurrence interval of 12 years. Two long time residents of San Jose gave information that this flood was the highest or the second Highest since the 1904 flood, but the best in formation indicated that it was the second highest. One resident pointed out floodmarks that indicated the 1951 flood was about 2 feet higher in San Jose and about 3 feet higher at the bridge on U.S. Highway 84-85 than the 1963 flood. According to one resident, the 1904 flood washed out all the bridges in that locality.

At the gaging station, Pecos River near Anton Chico, about 30 miles downstream, the peak discharge was only 3,000 cfs. .Cortribution of the Pecos River above Cow Creek was less than 2,000 cfs.

FLOODS OF JUNE 4-6 IN THE VICINITY OF CAMBRIDGE, OHIO

After WEUJAM P. CROSS (1964)

High-intensity cloudbursts frequently cause flash floods somewhere in Ohio. Because the high-intensity rains usually occur over small areas, representative amounts of rainfall are seldom measured by


rain gages, and resulting peak discharges seldom occur at stream- gaging stations.

A series of cloudburst-type thunderstorms in the vicinity of Cam bridge (fig. 20) on June 4-5 were notable for the high overnight rain catches and for the large area affected. The resulting flood on Crooked Creek west of Cambridge was outstanding. The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad bridge over Crooked Creek was destroyed, f.nd heavily traveled U.S. Highway 40 was closed for several days because of damaged bridge approaches. Damage in the areas was more than $1 million.

81°30'


that in table 14


5 MILESJ

FIGURE 20. Location of flood-determination points and isohyets for June 4-5, floods of June 4r-6, in the vicinity of Cambridge, Ohio


Two rain gages near Cambridge measured more than 7 inches of rain during the night of June 4-5. Accumulated rainfall at the recording rain gage at the Cambridge sewage plant is shown in figure 21.

The isohyets in figure 20 were based on 53 unofficial measurements of rainfall and from U.S. Weather Bureau records in the vicinity. No table features of the rainfall pattern are the several cells of 12 or more inches of rainfall. The area inside the 6-inch isohyet may have been more than 150 sq mi. Such intense rains have not been recorded in this area before. A storm in July 1913, in which nearly 12 inches of rain was measured at Newark, may have been similar, but that storm was not well documented by published records. Both the maximum point rainfall and the indicated areal average rainfalls of the 1963 storm greatly exceeded the 100-year frequency event on intensity- duration-area-frequency curves that are applicable to OHo (U.S. Weather Bureau, 1961).

10

8.15 inches at 0700 on June 5, no additional rain until June 7-.

^Recorder record ceased

-0.20 inch prior to midnight on June 3

1500 1800 2100 2400 0300 0700

JUNE 4 JUNE 5

FIGURE 21. Accumulated precipitation from recording rain gage at Cambridge sewage plant for June 4r-5. Data from U.S. Weather Bureau.


Peak discharges in the flood area are shown in table 14. Peak dis charges in the Crooked Creek basin were extremely high. Large overbank storage in Crooked Creek above the railroad bridge near Cambridge reduced the peak discharge; although the high discharge destroyed the bridge, it was not as spectacular as the per,k discharge on Peters Creek, a tributary above the bridge. The peak discharge on Peters Creek (20,200 cfs from 9.94 sq mi) exceeded the Myers rating of any previously known peak in Ohio. The enveloping line for the maximum floods in Ohio is a 60-percent Myers-rating line, whereas the Myers rating of the Peters Creek peak of June 1963 is 64 percent. A recurrence interval could not be computed for the unusually great magnitude of the peak on Peters Creek, but the recur rence of such a large peak would be extremely rare at this site.

TABLE 14. Flood stages and discharges, June 4-6, in the vicinity of Cambridge tOhio

Maximum floods Drainage

No. Stream and place of determination area Prior to June 1963 June Gage Dis-(sq mi) 1963 height charge

Period Year (feet) (cfs)

Musklngum River basin

1 Senecaville Reservoir near Senecaville.

2 Wills Creek at Cambridge-....-...-..

3 Crooked Creek near New Concord _ .-4 Peters Creek near Cambridge. . ____.-.5 Crooked Creek at Cambridge... ..-. . 6 Salt Fork near Cambridge. . ...........

7 Wills Creek Reservoir near WillsCreek.................. .....

121

406

1.509.94

56.4 . 55.6

844

1938-63

19351926-28,

1937-63

1956-63

1938-63

1945

1935

1945

1963

1963

.......... 25.228 23. 97

.......... 25.4

.......... 21.326 '22.55

4or5 ..........4or5 ..........4or5 ..........

.......... 11.905 --........

.......... 39.5611 33.06

'63,370« 58, 080(2)

7,860*8,500

1,40020,200(') 3,700

500

132,000> 84, 190

1 Storage in acre-feet.2 Unknown.3 Affected by backwater.* Affected by storage.* Bridge at site washed out. The discharge may have been about 12,600 cfs and rising at the time of the

destruction of the bridge. After failure, the discharge could have been as high as 26,000 cfs for a short time, with 6,000 cfs or more coming out of storage from the pond above the bridge site.

Most of the runoff during June was from the storm of June 4-5 ; therefore, the monthly figures of runoff can be used to indicate the storm runoff pattern in the flood area. For the month of June, Seneca Fork below Senecaville Dam had an adjusted runoff of 3.11 inches; Wills Creek at Cambridge had 3.92 inches; Salt Fork near Cambridge had 1.24 inches; and Wills Creek below Wills Creek Rewrvoir had 4.14 inches. The runoff from the area between Cambridge and Wills Creek Reservoir, excluding Salt Fork, was about 4.8 inches from 383 sq. mi. Although the heaviest part of the storm was centered down stream from the gaging station on Wills Creek at Cambridge, the peak


at the station was the highest since construction of Senecaville Dam in 1937. The flow in Seneca Fork immediately below Senecaville Dam from June 4-7 was less than 10 cfs.

FLOODS OF JUNE IN SOUTHWESTERN IDAHO AND NORTHEASTERNNEVADA

By C. A. THOMAS

Floods of an extent and severity unusual for the area, and hence of considerable hydrologic interest, occurred in the Bruneau Eiver and tributaries and in the Owyhee River tributaries in southweste rn Idaho and northeastern Nevada during the period June 4-15. The peak dis charge was about 130 percent of the previous maximum in 17 years of record in the East Fork Bruneau River. Flow at Bruneau River near Hot Spring, Idaho (station 14), was exceeded during the period of record (1909-15, 1944-63) by only the flood of March 1, 1910, and correlative studies indicate that the 1963 flood was probab] y higher than any flow since 1910. Local residents report, Sheep Creek and Marys Creek had not been higher in more than 40 years (table 15). The area of flooding and points of measurement of peak discharges are shown in figure 22.

The flooding resulted from unusually large amounts of precipita tion. The U.S. Geological Survey had operated eight storage precipi tation gages since 1962, and the U.S. Weather Bureau had operated five daily and two recording gages for longer periods in the food area. Isohyetal lines based on the precipitation records are shown in figure 22 for the period May 31-June 5. Daily precipitation at the eight stor age gages was estimated for the period on the basis of total catch for a longer period and daily records for the nearby observatior stations. Precipitation during the 6-day period, May 31-June 5, at Mountain City, Nev., and evidently at several of the storage gages exceeded the 7-day precipitation for a 100-year return period (U.S. Weather Bu reau, 1964). During the month of June, precipitation was 2 00 to 500 percent of normal at the U.S. Weather Bureau stations, and the an tecedent precipitation was relatively heavy. Precipitation during April was about twice normal for the month, and May precipitation was well above normal. Snowmelt contributed to the runoff, especially in the Jarbidge River tributaries and in other high-altitude tributaries. Runoff from the area of lower altitudes in the basin contributed little to the flood. The area is desert or semidesert; infiltration rates are high; and runoff is negligible during many successive years.


Damage was limited to bridges, roads, and erosion of grazing land and meadow land. Bridges on the principal roads across Sheep Creek and Marys Creek were washed away, and the area served by the bridges was isolated for several weeks. Other bridges and several stretches of roads were destroyed. The flooded areas are very sparsely populated and are used principally for cattle production.

116° 115°

Flood-determiration pointNumber corresponds to

that in table 15


FIGURE 22. Location of flood-determination points and isohyets for May 31- June 5, floods of June 1963, in southwestern Idaho and northeastern Nevada.


TABLE 15. Flood stages and discharges, June 1963, in southwestern Idaho andnortheastern Nevada

Maximum floods


Drainage area

(sqmi)

Prior to June 1963 ;

Period Year

Fune 1963 height

(feet)

DischargeRecur-

Cfs rence interval

(yrs)

Brnnean River basin

1

2

3

4

5 6

7

8

9 10

11

12

13

14

Meadow Creek near Rowland,

Bruneau River near Rowland,

McDonald Creek near Rowland,

Jarbidge River near Murphy

Buck Creek near Jarbidge, Nev.. East Fork Jarbidge River near

Columbet Creek near Jarbidge, Nov.... .......................

Bruneau River near Grasmere, Idaho..........................

Sheep Creek near Grasmere,

Marys Creek near Grasmere,

East Fork Bruneau River near

East Fork Bruneau River near

Bruneau River near Hot Spring,

58.0

374

10.8

56.8

25.8

84.6

3.40

1,0409.56

215

145

210

620

2,630

1913-18, 1962

1962

1929-32, 1954-63

1955-60, 1962

1911-14, 1949-63

1909-15, 1944-63

1962 ,.

1962 ...

1962 ..

1957 ...

1957 ..

1910 ..

4

4 4

15 6

15

6

8 4

4

4

8

8

5

14.93

13.0

11.70 9.42

6.88 7.25

19.82

4.95

5.34

7.96

20.7 4.66

22.9

23.0

7.43

8.21

7.12

8.29

13.0

11.66

940

2 120

1,270 60

447 ..460 276

693 ..

676

32

2,600 34

2,760

1,770

451 ..

665

463 .

619

6,500 ..

5,990

<*

8?!

40+

40+

20+

20+

30+

Owyhee River basin

15

16

Owyhee River above China diversion dam near Owyhee, Nov. . ...... --_-_-- .._

South Fork Owyhee River near

458

1,080

1939-63

1955-63

1952 ..

1957 ..

5

5

10.07 9.61

7.17 7.55

2.710 ..21-760

3,420 ..3,830

C 1 )

(l)

1 Not determined.2 Area above Wild Horse Dam, 209 sq mi, noncontributing.

FLOODS OF JUNE IN NEBRASKA

By H. D. BMOE

Record-breaking flood discharges occurred June 5 in Tekariah Creek basin (fig. 23) 'as the result of heavy localized rainfall. Th°. greatest observed rainfall was at the U.S. Weather Bureau gage at Herman, Nebr., where 5.0 inches fell during the 2-day period, June 4^5. Greater amounts may have fallen in Tekamah Creek basin, a short distance north of Herman. The magnitude of the peak discharges from three

309-939 O - 69 - 6


small areas in the basin ranged from 1.0 to 1.5 times th^ previous maximum peaks in 14 years of record, and the recurrence interval of the peak from each area was greater than 50 years (table 16).

Damage was predominantly by erosion of stream banks and crop land.

Flooding on June 24-25 in several adjoining basins in e^-st-central Nebraska (fig. 23) was the most severe in local history. The peak discharges for the 18 sites listed in table 16 attest to the magnitude of the 1963 flood peaks in relation to earlier known flood peaks.

The amount of rainfall that caused the flooding is illustrated by figure 24, adapted from a map prepared by the Corps of Engineers, Omaha District, from data collected by that agency, the U.S. Weather Bureau, the U.S. Geological Survey, and the Lir?x>ln Tele phone Company and from local residents. These data were supple mented by records from recording rain gages operated at David City

41'

EXPLANATION


that in table 16

FIGURE 23. Location of flood-determination points, June 5 and June 24-25, in east-central Nebraska.


TABLE 16. Flood stages and discharges, June 5 and June 24-25, in east-centralNebraska

Maximum floods

No.Stream and place of

determinationDrainage

area (sq mi) -

Prior to June 1963 J

Period Year

Tune L963 height

(feet)

Discharge

CfsRatio to 50-year flood

Tekamah Creek basin

1

2

3

South Branch Tekamah

South Branch Tekamah Creek tributary near Tftkam^h

South Branch Tekamah

2.54

4.08

9.73

1950-63

1950-63

1950-63

1950 ..

1950 ...

1954 ...

5

5

5

21.3 18.91

19.3 18.20

20.17 22.33

2,580 .2,570

1,800 .2,750

3,130 .4,560

1.26

1.04

1.06

Platte River basin

4

5 6

7 8 9

10

11

12

13

14

15

Bone Creek near David City....... ................

East Branch Skull Creek

Skull Creek near Linwood..- North Oak Creek at Agnew.. Wahoo Creek tributary near

Weston-.------.....--...-

North Fork Wahoo Creek

Dunlap Creek near Weston..

North Fork Wahoo Creek

Salt Creek near Ashland. ..'..

Platte River near South

9.60 8.25

26.3 72.0 88.4

.31

15.2

8.90

43.7

272

1,640

85,500

1950-63

1951-63

1950-63

1951-63

1910-63

1947-63

1881-1963

1951 ...

1951, 1959..

1951 ...

1951 ...

1959 ...

1951 ...

1960 ...

24 ..24 ..

24 ..24 ..24 ..

24

24

24

24

24

25

25

13.90 19.05

« 31.90 16.74 22.10

25.82 23.22 22.93 14.72 14.82

a 12. 45 10.62

20,900 20,400

32,400 74,800 27,800

550 .923

12,800 .15,900 4, 130 .

13,800

9,600 .81,400 45,300 .77,400 46,200 .87,000

124,000 .119,000

3.02 3.17

2.57 3.40 1.13

139

1.79

1.98

4.95

1.68

119

150

Kansas River basin

16 17

18

Eezar Creek near Garrison. . Big Blue River at Seward. . .

Plum Creek near Seward. . . .

43.5 1,070

88.2

1954-63 1957 _.24 .

25 24 .

22.34 21.81

43,600 15,300 .15,000 20,200

14.5

130 4.34

1 Recurrence interval, in years.* Not determined.3 At different site and datum.

and Malmo that show that most of the 9.71 and 8.75 inches recorded at those sites, respectively, fell within the 6-hour period between 0300 and 0900 hours on June 24.

A local resident southeast of David City observed 16.5 inches of rain fall of which 12.7 inches fell between 0510 and 0910 hours, and 3.7 inches fell prior to 0510 hours on June 24. Because of the near ness of this site (sec. 32, T. 15 N., R. 3 E., Butler County) to the recording gage at David City, it is reasonable to assume that part


of the 3.7 inches fell between 0300 and 0500 hours; thus, the total rainfall at this site was between 13 and 16 inches during the 6 hours from 0300 to 0900 hours. This is about three times the 100-year 6-hour rainfall designated by the U.S. Weather Bureau (1961) as the point rainfall that may be expected to recur in this vicinity on an aver age of once in 100 years.

Also of hydrologic significance is the large area, about 15 miles wide and 30 miles long, between David City and Malmo (fig. 24) that re ceived rainfall ranging from 6 to 16.5 inches in approximately 6 hours. Estimating the recurrence interval for such an event is far beyond the limitations of presently available data.

Peak discharges for the June 24-25 flood at the 15 sites listed in table 16 are the most outstanding of those determined within the storm area. Kunoff at three sites exceeded 2,000 cf s per sq mi, and at 10 sites it equaled or exceeded 1,000 cfs per sq mi. Exceptionally high run off rates were 2,977 cfs per sq mi from the 0.31-sq mi area upstream from the gage on Wahoo Creek tributary near Weston and 1,863 cfs per sq mi from the 43.7-sq mi drainage area of North Fork Wahoo Creek at Weston.

Local residents of some areas described the flooding as the most severe of any they could remember. Twenty-five cities and villages and more than 600 families suffered property loss. Three liver were lost by drowning. This toll might have been higher had net private boat owners rescued many persons from the tops of stranded cars and from second-story house levels, and had not Nebraska Air National Guard helicopters rescued several farm families after flood waters surrounding their homes.

The village of Linwood, near the mouth of Skull Creek, was espe cially hard hit when 65 of its 72 buildings were severely damaged. Some buildings were carried as far as two blocks from their founda tions by what was described as "a 4-foot wall of water."

Eight counties were declared disaster areas and thus became eligible to receive Federal aid for repair and rehabilitation work and for crop damage. More than 200 bridges in these eight counties were destroyed or damaged in various degrees, and many miles of roadways on flood plains were damaged by scour of the road bed and shoulders or by loss of gravel or crushed-stone surfacing material. In Lancaster County alone, nine bridges were lost, and highway and bridge damage was estimated to be" $237,000.

More than 96,000 acres of cropland was inundated in Saunders County, and the total for the eight-county area was estimated to be several times that amount. Crop loss in Butler County reportedly was confined to low land along about 100 miles of stream channels


where numerous small lakes were formed when floodwatev filled un- drained depressions on the flood plains.

Crop recovery was, however, evaluated as excellent. Topsoil loss by erosion on upland areas may be expected to have a fr,r-reaching effect on future crops.

The total property damage from this severe flood was estimated by the U.S. Weather Bureau (1965) to have been $13 million.

FLOODS OF JUNE 15-17 IN NORTH-CENTRAL WYOMING

By KENNETH B. RENNICK

In north-central Wyoming, runoff from snowmelt started early in June, and streamflows were generally in their recession phase when rains began on June 14. The rains caused rapid melting of the remain ing snowpacks, and the consequent runoff caused flooding in the area shown in figure 25. The form of the precipitation varied from steady

45110° 109° MONTANA 108 °

107 e

EXPLANATION


that in table 17

X 3.19

Precipitation station Number is amount of

precipitation, in inches, June 15-17

25 I

25 MILES

FIGURE 25. Location of flood-determination points and precipitation sites, floods of June 15-17, north-central Wyoming.


gentle rainfall to locally intense storms on scattered mountain areas. Rainfall amounts ranged from about 0.5 inch at lower elevations to un official amounts of more than 4 inches in areas of intense storms; the rapid runoff and floods were caused by the rain falling on melting snow. Steady rain fell on the upper Wind River basin in the south western part of the flood area. Intense storms occurred in the south over streams tributary to the Wind River, in the east-central part over the Big Horn Mountains, and in the northwest on the upper basins of the Greybull and Shoshone Rivers. Peak discharges at most gaging stations in the flood area exceeded those for the periods of record (see table IT). The areas of heaviest runoff were in the southern tributaries to the Wind River, in upper Clear Creek and tributaries, and in the upper Tongue River basin.

TABLE 17. Flood stages and discharges in the Yellowstone River basin, June 15-17,in north-central Wyoming

Maximum floods

No.

1

2

3

4

5 6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15


Sunlight Creek near Painter ...

Clarks Fork Yellowstone River at Chance, Mont-..--.

Dinwoody Creek above lakes

Crow Creek near Tipperary. .. Wind River near Crowheart. . -

Wind River at Riverton. ......

Middle Popo Agie River be-

North Popo Agie River near Milford-------. ..............

Little Popo Agie River near

Little Popo Agie River near

Little Wind River near River-

Fivemile Creek near Riverton -

Fivemile Creek near ShoshonL

Muddy Creek near Shoshoni. . .

Drainage area

(sq mi)

135

1,154

232

88.2

30 1,891

2,309

87.5

98.4

5.99

125

1,851

356

418

332

Prior to June 1963

Period

1918-63

1921-63

1946-63

1958-63

1927 1946-63

1906, 1908, 1911-63

1960-63

1946-63

1958-63 ...-do.._.--

1946-63

1941-63

1950-58, 1960-63

1923 1941-42,

1949-63

1923-63 1949-63

June Year 1963

1918 -.

1928 -.

1956 ..

1959 ..

1QK7

IQOE

1961 .-

1952 ..

1QW

1962 ..

1952 ..

1962 ..

1950

1QOO

IQftO

1QOQ

1QC1

15

16

15

1615

16

17

16

16

""ie"

16

17

15

15

15

Gage height (feet)

5.8 3.34

16.5 7.03 5.66 5.05

4.174.57 4.80

(2) 9.08 9.16

8.15 9.49

4.68 7.69

6.59 9.44

<3.07 .. 2.61

5.83 6.64

10.13 10.85 11.0

10.04 « 7.85

6.43(2) 7.50 7.10

Discharge

Recur- Cfs rence in

terval(yr)

4,000 ..........1,230 3

10,900 ..........7,860 2 1,910 ..........1,390 <2

876 .....--...1, 270 2

340 (2) 13,000 ..........11,400 .....-.-..13,000 4

13,300 ..........9, 050 (2)

1,010 ......-.--4, 180 3 1. 27

2,060 ..........4, 500 3 1. 26

138 ...-.-----........... -------

1,160 .....----2, 010 16

17,300 ..........1+.700 (2) 1,690 ----------

1,440 4 3,500 ..---.-.-.3,390 -....--...

2, 070 7 1<5,300 ..........1,430 ....-...-.1, 410 2



TABLE 17. Flood stages and discharges in the Yellowstone River basin, June 15-17, in north-central Wyoming Continued

Maximum floods

No.

16

17

18

19

20

91

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

32

33

34

OE

36

37

determination

Wind River below Boysen

South Fork Owl Creek near

Middle Fork Owl Creek above

North Fork Owl Creek below

Owl Creek near Thermopolis_.

Fifteen Mile Creek near

Tensleep Creek near Tensleep .

Qreybull River near Pitchfork .

Greybull River at Meeteetse. - .

Shell Creek above Shell Creek

South Fork Shoshone Rivernpftr Vftllpv

Shoshone River below Buffalo

South Fork Tongue River

Wolf Creek at Wolf... - .._._____

- '<st Goose Creek near Big

Cross Creek above Big Horn

Drainage

(sq mi)

7,701

86.3

33.6

60

478

95.0

518

247

282

194

681

OO 1

145

15, 765

297

1 EOQ

204

O7 Q

on ^

9 9Q

Prior to June 1963

Period

1951-63

1940-43,1959-63

1959-63

1962-63

1911-12,1915-17,1932,

1958-63

1951-63

1911-12,1915-24,1944-63

1946-49,1951-63

1946-63

1897, 1903,1921-631QQA fiq

1QK7 flO

1Q4.1-.A3

1QOQ ftQ

1Q9QCQ

1957-58,1960-63

1O1 fi

1921-63

1QAfi_fiQ

1Q1Q 9Q

1941-63

1OJ.4 A3

1QE4 CO

___.do.._._

1961-63

Year

1951 .

1941 _

1962 .

1962 .

1CM4.

1962 .

1952 .

1924

1957 .

1952 .

1937 .

1957 .

1961 .

1945 _

IQOO

1935 _

1962 .

19181098

1956

1Q44

1Q41

1957. 1961

1961

June1963

21

15

15

15

15

15

15

16

15

15

15

16

15

15

17

15

21

15

15

15

15

15

height(feet)

11.9010.69

7.59

4.04

5.723.61

2.04(2)

5.618.733.455.66

»5. 773.54

6.23

6.987.68

7.00

>7.479.205.908.83

6.187.847.496.09

U4.8

10.62

6.66

8.83

( 2)

9.33

6.365.626.246.45

5.425.04.60

4.21 .3.59

(2)

6.02

Discharge

Cfs

11,10058,490

1,940

908

538146

6261,370

1,1907.030

2751,130

3,300577

2,8902,230

5,7008,6102,2605,080

If, 50013,6009,300

! > 400

8701,8703,0202,320(2)

25,200« 24, 200

4,850

6,610

18,7005 14, 70058,860

( 2)1,1201,6703,400

2,6301,1001,130

580

1,230

5149«285

Recurrence in

terval(yr)

(2)

4

<2

18

31.07

14

<2

4

21

19

31.23

32.01

(2)

3

(2)

'1.40

( 2)

12

8

'1.28

28

(2)



TABLE 17. Flood stages and discharges in the Yellowstone River basin, June 15-17, in north-central Wyoming Continued

Maximum floods

No.

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

46

47

48

49

50

51

52

53

Drainage Stream and place of area


West Goose Creek near Big

Goose Creek near Sheridan. . . .

Little Goose Creek in canyon

Goose Creek below Sheridan. .

Middle Fork Powder River

Powder River near Kaycee. . . .

North Fork Crazy Woman Creek below Spring Draw

North Fork Crazy Woman

North Fork Clear Creek near

Clear Creek near Buffalo ......

South Piney Creek at Willow Park....... __________________

South Piney Creek near Story.

North Piney Creek near Story-

24. 4

120

55

392

46

980

51.7

174

29

120

60

33.6

70.5

37.7

106

267

Prior to June 1963

Period

1954-63 __..do ...

1930-63

1941-63

1942-63

1962-63

1923-63 1934-36,

1938-63

1949-63

1950-63

1950-63 ....do......

1894, 1896- 99, 1917- 27, 1938- 63

1941-63 -...do......

1946, 1948-57, 1960-63

1951-63

1951-63

1903-06, 1911-17, 1919-23, 1924-63

1917-63 1917-23,

1950-63

June Year 1963

1956 _.. 1957 ..

1937 ..

1946 -.

1962 ..

1962 ..

1941 ..

1949 -.

1962 .-

1952 ._1952 _.

1962 ..

1944 _.1945 .-

1957 ..

1957 ..

1956 ..

1944 ..

1Q9Q

1923 ._

15

15

15

16

15

15

15

16

15

15

15

15

15 _15

15

15

16

Gage height (feet)

4.45 .5.37 4.89 5.83

6.136.78 5.66 7.82

4.17 12.6 18 12.57

5.98

5.42 5.83

9.05 7.05

M.91 _

3.95

5.29 6.19 8.05 .

7.98

»4.79 4.68 4.00

e 5. 30 .4.57 5.04

5.32 6.05

10.9

6.0 7.33

DischargeRecur-

Cfs rence in terval(yr)

"582 .

« 1, 030 1,900 .3,160

1,080 .1,350 4,100 -.5,450

4887,110 (2) --5,230 -.

1,270

610 -.1,020

1,050 -.632

407 ..675

1,390 ..3,420

1,810 ..1,860

649 -6 1, 620 * 1. 350 .62,090

1,230 _1.820

«2,570 ..53 410

(2) -

6 2. 580 _63 570

(!)

<*)

14

(2)

38.33

<2

7

(2)

(2 )

21.09

31.26

'1.07

(»)

'1.94

W

13

1 At different site and datum.2 Unknown.' Ratio of peak discharge to 50-year flood.4 Affected by backwater from ice.6 Affected by storage in reservoir or reservoirs.6 Affected by backwater from slide.


One death, a small boy who drowned in the city of Sheridan, was attributed to the flood. Property damage was heavy in the cities of Lander and Sheridan where many homes and businesses w?-re flooded. Near Greybull many farm homes were flooded, and irrigation struc tures were destroyed or severely damaged. Three stream-gaging struc tures were destroyed by the floods.

FLOOD OF JUNE 16 IN UPPER DUCHESNE RIVER, UTAH

On June 16, failure of a dam on Little Deer Creek, a tributary to the upper Duchesne River, caused a record-breaking flood in Deer Creek and for many miles downstream in the Duchesne River (fig. 26). The dam apparently failed before the water reached the spillway crest. The 1,000 acre-feet of water that was estimated to hav?- been im pounded at the time of failure was released in a short, period of about 20 minutes.

110°30 f

40° 30'

FIGURE 26. Location of flood-determination points, flood of June 16, in upperDuchesne River, Utah.


There was very little inflow to the Duchesne River from oth?,r tribu taries, and the flood peak was rapidly reduced from an estimated dis charge of 47,000 cfs below the dam to 2,980 cfs at Duchesne (table 18).

The movement of the peak discharge of this flood cannot be com pared with a peak from normal storm runoff, and relation to recur rence interval is impractical because of the unnatural cair-e of the flood.

The peak discharge on the Duchesne River from the mouth of Deer Creek to Hanna was of a magnitude difficult to describe or to compare with other known unusually great peaks in this area. The probability of a flood of this magnitude to recur in this reach of the Duchesne River is extremely small.

TABLE 18. Flood stages and discharges, June 16, in upper Duchesne River, Utah

Maximum floods

Stream and place of Drainage

(sq mi)

Prior to June 1963

1963 height Period Year (feet)

Discharge

Recur- C "s rence

interval (yrs)

Green River basin

2 Duchesne River, sec. 22, T. 2 N., R. 9 W., Uinta meridian, 10

3 Duchesne River near Hanna__-__19 ..................78 1922-23,

1929-30, 1946-63 1953 ..

352 1919-63 1921 _.

660 1917-63 1922 ..

16 ..........

16 ..........

25.6516 12. 38

16 7. 97...... 2 8. 65

16 4.68

>47,000 ...

38 700 _._

1,500 ...17,5002,500 ...5,2604.420 ...2.980

312.6

3 1.7

2

1 Estimated by Utah Water and Power Board.2 Site and datum then in use.3 Ratio of peak discharge to 50-year flood.

After the flood water emptied into the Duchesne River ard arrived at the point of indirect measurement, 10 miles northwest of Hanna (station 2), it was still 38,700 cfs. The drainage area at station 2 was estimated to be 19 sq mi, and a 50-year natural flood at this point would be about 480 cfs.

At Duchesne River near Hanna (drainage area, 78 sq mi), about 2 miles below station 2, the peak discharge was reduced to 17,500 cfs, principally because of channel and overbank storage. The low prob ability of the recurrence of this peak is illustrated by the fact that a 50-year natural flood at this point is 1,370 cfs.

After the great reduction of the peak discharge in the Duchesne River from 17,500 cfs at the gaging station near Hanna to 5,260 cfs at the gaging station near Tabiona, it was still more than twice the


previous maximum in a 45-year period of record and was 1.7 times a 50-year flood. The peak discharge near Hanna was 17,500 cfs, but the mean for the day was only 630 cfs, a daily mean discharge which indi cates that the flood peak was very sharp and of relatively short duration.

One person drowned in the flood, and damage to bridges and other property was more than $100,000.

FLOOD OF JUNE 29 ON GIANT OF THE VALLEY MOUNTAIN NEARST. HUBERTS, N.Y.

By F. LITMAN ROBISON and CHAKLES L. O'DONNELL

An intense cloudburst struck in the vicinity of Giant of the Valley Mountain near St. Huberts in the Adirondacks (fig. 27) on June 29. After an hour, 3.75 inches of rain was observed in a rain gr,^e near the base of the mountain. The storm lasted for an hour and a half and produced 4.25 inches. At Keene Valley, about 4 miles away, only 0.25 inch of rain fell. It appeared that the core of the deluge was concen trated in an area about 1 mile square centered on Giant of the Valley Mountain. The unusually high, intensity of the storm is evident when compared with the estimated expectancy for this area of a 100-year 1-hour rainfall of 2.4 inches (U.S. Weather Bureau, 1961).

73°45'TO ELIZAPETHTOWN

44° 10'

Giant of the Valley Mountain Altitude, 4627 ft above sea level

EXPLANATION

-3

Flood-detemination pointNumber corresponds to

that in table 19

FIGURE 27. Location of flood-determination points, floods of June 2P, on Giant of the Valley Mountain, N.Y.


The unusually heavy rain on the mountainsides triggered several landslides. The mass of waiter, mud, boulders, and uprooted trees rush ing down the mountain gouged out new channels, wrecked cottages and automobiles, and flooded sections of State Highway 73. About 20 campers and motorists were forced to abandon four automobiles on the road and were marooned for the night at three homes in the area sur rounded by the flood. It was reported that at the height of the storm 60 automobiles were trapped in the knee-deep mud on the highway. Damage in the area was estimated to be tens of thousands of dollars.

To evaluate the peak runoff per square mile, indirect measurements of peak discharges of June 29 were made at sites on four strer.ms. (See table 19 below.)

TABLE 19. Flood stages and discharges, June 29, on Giant of the Valley Moun tain, N.Y.

No.

1234


Beede Brook at St. Huberts..... ...............

Slide Brook at Euba Mills.. ....................

area (sq mi)

7.70.73

2.489.03

Cfs

1,530479

1,1201,750

Discharge

Ratio of peak dis-

Cfs p«r charge to sq ni 50-year

flood

19^ 1. 42

453 (')19"' 2. 66

1 Undetermined.

FLOODS OF JULY 16-17 IN THE VICINITY OF HOT SPRING S, ARK.

After R. C. GILSTRAP and R. C. CHBISTENSEN (1964)

Heavy rains occurred in the Hot Springs area (fig. 28) during July 12-17. The total for the 6-day period ranged from 1.40 inches at Alum Fork to 14.31 inches at Blakely Mountain Dam.

Rains of July 12-15, although scattered throughout the Hct Springs area, were heavy in spots; 5.00 inches fell at Blakely Mountain Dam, and 3.80 inches fell at Hot Springs on July 14. Runoff was not heavy after these intense rains, but wetting of the soil induced Hgh rates of runoff from the rains of the next 2 days.

Table 20 shows the daily totals of precipitation at eight U.S. Weather Bureau stations from July 12 to 17.

The most intense precipitation in the storm area fell during the early morning of July 16. At the recording precipitation station at Blakely Mountain Dam, 6.1 inches of rain fell in the 1^-hour period from 0545 to 0715 hours. Figure 29 shows the cumulative precipitation dur ing the morning of July 16 for stations at Blakely Mountain Dam, Carpenter Dam, and Remmel Dam. Intensities of precipitation such as those shown in fig. 29 are very rare. A rainfall of 4.6 inches in 2


TO ALUM FORK

34°30'

EXPLANATIONCatherine ''REMMEL

CARPENTER DAM \ i i A " , DA M \g Flood-determnation point <k

FIGURE 28. Location of flood-determination points and rainfall-data sites, floods of July 16-17, in the vicinity of Hot Springs, Ark.

TABLE 20. Precipitation at Weather Bureau stations, July 12-17, in the vicinityof Hot Springs, Ark.

Station

Hot Springs, 1 mile north-

observa-

07001700 07000800

1700170006000800

Precipitation, in inches

July

12

0.20 .54

0 0

.85 0 0 0

13

0.22 0

.45

.15

.09

.39 0 1.00

14

2.10 .78

2.01 5.00

3.80 1.93 1.25 2.01

15

1.03 0 2.90

.27

0 0 .40 .47

12-15

3.55 1.32 5.365.42

4.74 2.32 1.65 3.48

16

0.07 .08

2.10 7.35

8.35 5.20 .56 .69

17

0 0 1.80 1.54

0 0 .14 .05

12-17

3.62 1.40 9.26

14.31

13.09 7.52 2.35 4.22

hours or 3.7 inches in 1 hour in the Hot Springs area has a recurrence interval of 100 years.

The heavy rains on July 16 produced extremely high floois on small streams in the vicinity of Hot Springs. Flooding occurred principally on the tributaries to the Ouachita River from Lake Ouachita to Mal vern and on the headwaters of the South Fork Saline River; minor floods occurred on the headwaters of the Middle Fork Saline River.


10

I 7 o

- 6

g

1 5 O

Blakely Mountain Dam

J_____L0200 0400 0600 0800

JULY 16, 1963

1000 1200

FIGURE 29. Cumulative precipitation in the vieinty of Hot Springs, Ark. From U.S. Weather Bureau data.

Flooding on the Saline liiver was from the South and Middle Forks and had a moderate peak discharge of 6,850 cfs at Benton. The peak discharge on Ouachita River near Malvern was 53,800 cfs, and this was all generated from 457 sq. mi. of drainage area below Blakely Moun tain Dam.

The flow in the Ouachita River is controlled by three r-^servoirs: Lake Ouachita, formed by Blakely Mountain Dam; Lake Hamilton, formed by Carpenter Dam; and Lake Catherine, formed by Remmel Dam. Runoff above Blakely Mountain Dam was stored in Lake Ouach ita, and the only discharge from the lake during July 14-20 was leak age thrqugh the gates of about 20 cfs.

Table 21 shows the high rate of runoff in small streams in the storm area. The maximum rate of runoff determined was 1,940 cfs per sq. mi.


from a drainage area of 1.25 sq. mi. on Potash Sulphur Creek near Hot Springs. The peak discharge from a small drainage area of 0.8 sq. mi. on Bear Creek was 1,470 cf s, which is a rate of 1,840 cf?. per sq. mi.

The peak discharges in the small streams were of rare occurrence and will seldom be equaled. Sufficient data are available to determine that the peak discharges in Glazypeau Creek at Mountain Pine and in Gulpha Creek near Hot Springs were 2.26 and 2.19 times, respectively, as great as a 50-year flood.

The discharges on the Ouachita River near Malvern and on the Saline River at Benton had short recurrence intervals.

TABLE 21. Flood stages and discharges, July 16-17, in the vicinity of Hot Springs,Ark.

Maximum floods

Drainage Prior to No. Stream and place of area July 1963

Period Year 1963 height (feet)

Discharge

Recur- Cfs rence

interval (years)

Red River basin

12

3

4

5

6

7

89

10

Glazypeau Creek at Mountain Valley. ...................

Glazypeau Creek at Mountain

Bull Bayou tributary near Hot

Hot Springs Creek at Hot

Potash Sulphur Creek near

Tigre Creek near Hot Springs ....

0.8

4.3

29

2.5

5.81

50

1.259.3

1,562

569

1961-63

1956

1956

1903-04,1923-63

19271938-63

1962 ..

1956 ..

1956 -

1923 __

1927 ..1939 ..

16 ..

16

16 -.

16 ..

16 -.

16 -.

16 -16 -

16

17

10.3612.41

30.3

21.0330.526.012.86

1,470

560 ..2,110

26,600

2,450

4,350 ..4,900

21,100 ..36,800

2,43013,700

140,000 _

» 53, 800(') -

67,000 ..6,850

0)

(0

22.

(')

(0

22.

(')m

3H

<2

26

19

1 Not determined.2 Ratio to 50-year flood.3 Affected by reservoirs; from 457 sq mi below Blakely Mountain Dam.

Extensive property damage was caused by the flood. A large part of the downtown area of Hot Springs was flooded by Hot Springs Creek, which normally flows through storm sewers under and parallel to Central Avenue. Numerous cars were washed from the streets by the floodwaters, and traffic through Hot Springs was temporarily halted. Some business establishments that were damaged by floodwaters were closed for about 2 weeks. Several homes along Gulpha and Glazypeau Creeks, the trailer camp on Gorge Creek, and a church camp on the South Fork Saline River were evacuated during the flooc1 . Numerous


washouts occurred on county roads, bridges, and railroads. Total prop erty damage from the flood was more than $2 million, about equally divided between Hot Springs and the adjacent areas of Garland County.

FLOOD OF JULY 23 AT HARTSELLE, ALA.

An intense thunderstorm late in the evening of July 23 produced heavy rainfall in the Hartselle area. The Tennessee Valley / uthority (1963) reported on the storm and the resulting flood in detail. The following description of the flood is based on the TVA report and on streamflow data collected by a U.S. Geological Survey field party.

The heaviest rainfall occurred within the city limits of Hartselle. Rainfall amounts of 3.5 to 9.1 inches in a 90-minute period were re ported within a 3-mile radius of the center of town. There was no offi cial measurement of rainfall at Hartselle, but six unofficial measure ments were obtained from a bucket survey in the area. Rainfall catches are shown in figure 30.

Several small streams in the Hartselle area reached record stages, according to information furnished by local residents. Town Branch, a tributary to Shoal Creek, which flows through the downtown business district, flooded 75 buildings, some of them to a depth of 41 inches. A local resident stated that the flood on Town Branch was about 18 inches higher than a flood that occurred about 25 years ago. Shoal Creek, which flows through southeast Hartselle, did not have un usually high stages east of town, but downstream from Town Branch, the crest stage of July 23, 1963, was 4.9 feet higher than th°, Decem ber 29,1954, high water.

Indirect measurements of peak runoffs were made at the three locations shown in figure 30, and peak flows are shown in tab] e 22.

Flood damage was confined mainly to the downtown business dis trict. The Alabama State Civil Defense Department estimated that damage to business establishments in downtown Hartselle amounted to $2 million. The town was designated a disaster area by thQ, Federal Small Business Administration.

TABLE 22. Peak discharges, July 23, at Hartselle, Ala.

Drainage Peak dischargeNo. Stream and place of determination area

(sq mi) Cfs Cfs per sq mi

1 Unnamed tributary to Shoal Creek at State Highway 36, 2.5 mileseast of Hartselle.................................................. 0.23 198 860

2 Unnamed tributary to Shoal Creek at State Highway 36,1.1 milesnortheast of Hartselle.-.-._.-____._..___..._____.__.__....__.____ 1.03 1,180 1,145

3 Town Branch 600 ft upstream from mouth at Hartselle..-----.....- 1.60 » 980 610

1 Does not include an estimated 20-cfs peak flow that was diverted from Town Branch watershed into Village Branch through a ditch in the Louisville & Nashville Railroad cut.

309-939 O - 69 - 7


86°56' 86°55'

EXPLANATION

»1 X4.8Flood-determination point Point of rainfall measurement

Number corresponds to and amount,in inches that in table 22

FIGURE 30. Location at flood-determination points and precipitation-data sites, floods of July 23, at Hartselle, Ala.

FLOODS OF AUGUST 7 IN BUFFALO, N.Y.

By F. LUMAN ROBISON

The most severe rainstorm in 18 years in western New York dropped 3.8 inches of rain in the Buffalo area on July 29 (fig. 31). About 2,000 basements in the residential section of South Buffalo were flooded. Estimates of damage ranged from $500,000 to $1.5 million.

Only 9 days later, on August 7, rains of near-record magnitude again fell over western New York. A cold front from Canada joined warm air moving across the Great Lakes and produced a storm that dropped 3.88 inches of rain in 5 hours on Buffalo and its suburbs.


EXPLANATION

Flood-determinati

FIGURE 31. Location of flood-determination point, flood of August 7, at Buffalo,N.Y.

The greatest 24-hour rainfall recorded at Buffalo since at least 1871 was 4.28 inches in August 1893, and the greatest 6-hour rainfall since at least 1890 was 3.54 inches in August 1944. New rainfall-intensity records for August were established when 1.75 inches fell in 1 hour and 2.25 inches fell in 2 hours. The intensity of the storm rainfall exceeded the 100-year storm intensity.

The peak discharge at the gaging station on Scajaquada Creek on August 7 was 2,620 cfs. The previous maximum recorded peak, in a short period of record beginning in 1958, was 1,150 cfs in 1959.

An indication of the small area of the storm is the unit peak dis charge of 167 cfs per sq mi in Scajaquada Creek, whereas the unit peak discharge at the gaging stations on Ellicott Creek, adjacent basin to the north, and on Cayuga Creek, adjacent basin to the south, were 4 cfs per sq mi and 6 cfs per sq mi, respectively.

Flooding was general throughout Buffalo, and traffic was greatly disrupted. The suburbs of Cheektowaga and Lancaster were especially hard hit; streets and underpasses were inundated, and many automo-


biles were submerged and ruined. Telephone service was disrupted in much of the area for various periods of time. Hundreds of residents left their homes and were given refuge in Red Cross shelters.

A short section of the Niagara branch of the New York State Thruway was under water and impassible for a short time; the Scaja- quada Expressway was flooded, and traffic was halted for about 12 hours.

The area was declared a disaster area by Federal and State author ities. The Internal Revenue Service established a special taxpayer as sistance section to aid persons to claim casualty losses in income tax re turns, and the Small Business Administration opened a field office to grant low-interest long-term loans to flood victims.

The Mayor of Buffalo estimated damage in the city at $28 million to homes and businesses and $7 million to streets and public buildings.

The Buffalo District of the Corps of Engineers estimated the damage from direct overflow and backup from Scajaquada Creek at about $500,000. A report prepared by the Corps of Engineers (1963) states, "Although the flooding was widespread and affected thousands of residential and commercial units, very little of the damr.ge was the result of direct overflow from an established water course. The in tensity and volume of the rainfall created flooding situations where- ever there was a low spot, long before the runoff reached Scajaquada Creek or even one of the major storm sewers. * * * High-vTater marks indicated that to a large extent the flooding was caused by the inability of the local drainage system to carry the amount of inflow from the storm. As soon as the water ponded in the streets it entered the sani tary sewers, either through the manhole covers or the vent pipes, and flooded the cellars connected to them. * * * Although the major source of damage in the flooded area came from storm sewers and other drainage outlets that were not adequate to carry the runoff from the August 7 storm, this does not mean that the sewers were inade quately designed. It is felt that any town or city subjected to a similar storm would have suffered flooding."

FLOODS OF AUGUST 10 AT ALBUQUERQUE, N. J'EX.

By G. L. HAYNES, JR.

An airmass-type thunderstorm produced high-intensity rainfall over Albuquerque, N. Mex., in the late afternoon and evening of Au gust 10. The isohyetal pattern shown in figure 32 is based on 48 reports of total rainfall by the Albuquerque Cooperative Rainfall Observer Network and is probably among the most comprehensive for this type thunderstorm.

106°40'

SUMMARY OF FLOODS

35'

B95106°30'

FIGURE 32. Location of flood-determination points and isohyets for August 10, floods of August 10, at Albuquerque, N. Mex.

The two recording rainfall gages in the city were on the outskirts of the storm and did not record amounts of rainfall representative of the flood-producing storm. Two observers, a meteorologist with the Sandia Corporation and an engineer with the Corps of Engineers, in the area of heaviest rainfall, obtained frequent readings during the storm. These valuable intensity data (table 23) are plotted as curves of accumulated rainfall in figure 33. Light winds aloft caused only slow horizontal movement of the storm, and therefore heavy localized rain resulted. During the 20-minute period between 1817 pnd 1837 hours, 2.05 inches of rain fell at one of the sites. The recurrence interval of such a storm is great; in the Albuquerque area the 100-year 30- minute storm is 1.5 inches and the 100-year 60-minute storm is 2.0 inches (U.S. Weather Bureau, 1961).

Precipitation was heaviest in Northeast Heights of Albuquerque where the runoff concentrated in Arroyo del Embudo ard Hahn Arroyo. Swiftly moving floodwater extensively damaged urb^n prop erty in this area; the damage comprised destruction of wall?, erosion of yards, sediment deposition, and water damage to interiors of homes.

309-939 O - 69 - 8


TABLE 23. Accumulated rainfall observed at two locations, August 10, in northeastern Albuquerque, N. Mex.

2924 Avenida Nevada NE. 9834 San Gabriel NE.

TimeAmount (inches) Time

Amount (inches')

1810__-________________ Rain began 1815.___________________ Rain began1817.1825.1834.1837.1849.1925.2200.

0 351 252. 002.403. 163. 333. 50

1835___. ._.__..-.-._.._-...1845 __ _--- _ 1855 1910 .. --------------1925 1955 2030 2200

1. 302. 302. 502. 602. 702. 802.903. 00

5 3

2

1

2924 Avenida Nevada NE

9804 San

1800 1900 2000

AUGUST 10, 1963

2100 2200

FIGURE 33. Accumulated rainfall at two locations, August 10, in northeasternAlbuquerque, N. Mex.

Recently constructed drainage structures proved inadequate, and flows were forced out of the channels and over the roads. Ro?d surfacing was swept a\vay; culverts were undermined; and railings and walk ways were damaged. Heavy deposition of silt in Hahn Arroyo com pletely obstructed some culverts.

Water from Embudo Reservoir, capacity 425 acre-feet, spilled and eroded about 3,700 cubic yards of the earth spillway. Spill from the reservoir combined with flow of Hahn Arroyo and inundated about 490 acres in the north-central part of the city; the flooding caused severe damage to homes and business establishments.


Runoff in the south-central and southeastern part of the city col lected in Campus Wash, washed out the crossing at Edith Foulevard NE., and inundated about 115 'acres in a valley area of commercial warehouses, city yards, and old houses. Extensive sediment deposition caused major damage in this area.

Runoff from the airport mesa in the southern part of the city flowed down Gibson Boulevard and Miles Road into the valley area of south- central Albuquerque. The flooded area here was the most extensive since 1929 and covered about 275 acres. Major damage to homes, busi ness establishments, and the railroad occurred in this area.

No lives were lost, but a Red Cross survey determined that 1,250 families were affected by the flood. Five hundred families received direct aid.

The Corps of Engineers estimated the amount of damage caused by the flood. The amounts also include damage caused by the storms of August 12 and 13 when up to 0.5 inch of rain fell. Since the damage caused by the subsequent storms was probably relatively minor, the total amounts for the three storms are given in the following tabulation:

Type of damage Losses Property _____________________________________ $1,175,000 Transportation _________________________________ 483,000 Other _______________________________________ 217,000

Total ___________________________________ $1, 875,000

Indirect measurements of discharge were made on a tributary of Hahn Arroyo, on Hahn Arroyo near the mouth, at two sites on Arroyo del Embudo, and on Campus Wash (fig. 32). Discharges for the 1961 flood on Hahn Arroyo and Arroyo del Embudo are included in table 24 for comparison with the 1963 peaks.

The flood frequencies indicate the relative magnitude of the peak discharges at the sites. However, the relationships from which the frequencies were computed were developed for nonurbanizec1 areas in New Mexico. Runoff characteristics for urbanized areT.s differ markedly from those for nonurbanized areas; therefore, tlxQ, under lying relationships may afford only a relative basis for comparison of the peaks.

Relationships have not been defined for areas as small as tl*rt of the Hahn Arroyo tributary, but the unit runoff of 2,840 cfs per sq mi for the peak is extremely high. Peak discharges for 1963 on Hahn Arroyo and Arroyo del Embudo greatly exceed those for 1961. Recurrence intervals for the 1963 peaks are defined as about 3% times as great as 50-year floods near the Alameda lateral. On Arroyo del Errbudo the recurrence intervals for the peak discharges indicate that the flood


TABLE 24. Flood stages and discharges, August 10, at Albuquerque, N. Mex.

No.

1

2

3

4

5

determination

Hahn Arroyo tributary be tween Stardust Dr. and

Arroyo del Embudo between Pennsylvania St. and

Arroyo del Embudo upstream

Campus Wash upstream from Edith Blvd.--. .............

Maximum floods

Drainage

(sq mi) August 1963 August height 1963 (feet)

Period Year

0.50 .................. 10 ..........7.6 1961 1961 ....................

-......-----...-.. 10 .-.-...--.

14.6 ...---.--.-.....-. 10 ..........

34.1 1961 1961 .......................-----.-...--.-- 10 -.-..-..--

7.3 .................. 10 ..........

Discharge

Recur-

interval(yrs)

1,420 (2)935 ....-.-..

s 4, 100 * 3.

1,470 35

3,620 ..-.-.-.-8,840 *3.

7

5

1 Computed from relationships for nonurbanized areas in New Mexico.2 Undefined.3 At site downstream; drainage area, 8.5 sq mi. « Ratio of peak discharge to 50-year flood. 5 Part of flow intercepted by storm sewers.

increased in magnitude downstream. This apparent trend is contrary to the precipitation pattern and may be explained by the fact that an undetermined amount of flow from the drainage area above the upstream measuring site bypassed the site as it flowed down Menaul Boulevard, Northwestern Boulevard, and Indian School Road. This flow reentered the main channel at two points below the site.

The peak discharge on Campus Wash had a recurrence interval of only 6 years, an event of rather frequent occurrence. An unknown amount of the flow from this drainage area is intercepted by storm sewers. A suitable site could not be found from which to measure the flow from the airport mesa.

FLOODS OF AUGUST 14-22 IN CENTRAL ARIZONA

By B. N. AI.DBIDGE

Throughout Arizona, thunderstorms were frequent dur; ng August. On several occasions runoffs in excess of 1,500 cfs occurred in small isolated areas. Meteorologic conditions during the period August 14-22 were especially conducive to the formation of thunderstorms, and most of the State received heavy amounts of precipitation. During this period thunderstorms caused damage of nearly $4 million in Arizona. Most of this, $3.6 million, occurred in the Glendale and Prescott areas. The remainder resulted from flooding of highways near Payson, flood ing of streets, businesses, and homes in Globe, Winslow, and the Mesa- Apache Junction area, and flooding in several other small areas.

Data on precipitation, runoff, and damages are lacking for most of the smaller floods, so only the three major areas affected by flooding


during this period are discussed in this report: Glendale, August 16-17 ; Prescott, August 16 and 19; and Payson, August 22.

FLOODS OF AUGUST 16-17 IN GLEIVDALE-MARYVALE AREA

Severe flooding occurred in Glendale and in the northwestern sec tion of Phoenix, known as Maryvale, as a result of a rain thr.t started at 2215 hours on August 16 and lasted until 0420 hours on August 17. A recording rain gage near the center of Glendale registered 5.25 inches of rain in the 6-hour period. An open can in the back of a pickup truck that was parked nearby caught nearly 6 inches of rain. U.S. Weather Bureau Technical Bulletins 28 and 40 indicate a frequency of over 100 years for such rainfall. Five gages located in Glendale and I faryvale recorded more than 3.4 inches of rain. Rain fell over a fairly large area. An isohyetal map prepared by the Corp of Engineers shows 440 sq mi within the 0.5 inch isohyet, but the flooding resulted generally from sheet flow that originated within the 3-inch isohyet between the Arizona Canal and the Grand Canal (fig. 34).

The flood occurred in a highly developed commercial and residential area located on an alluvial slope. There are no defined channels in the area, and water moving in a southwesterly direction through depres sions and streets spread out over much of Glendale and Maryvale. Most of the damage resulted from water that was ponded in low spots be hind railroad and highway embankments. The worst flooding occurred along the northeast side of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Eail-

EXPLANATION

Point of rainfall measurement and amount, in inches

Isohyetal line, showing precipitation in inches

FIGURE 34. Location of rainfall-data sites, floods of August 16-17, in Glendale-Maryvale, Ariz.


way tracks, which, except for two small trestles and a few drains, formed a complete barrier to the flow, and north of Grand Canal, which served as an outlet for floodwaters. Along Grand Avenue, which parallels the railway tracks, almost all business establishments in a 6-mile stretch were flooded. Behind Grand Canal about 2 sq mi of residential area was flooded to depths of 2 or 3 feet. In a few places dikes along the south side of Grand Canal broke and allowed water to flow into areas to the south, but only minor flooding occurred.

The total flooded area amounted to about 10 sq mi, of which slightly less than 3 sq mi was developed for urban uses.

Because of the terrain, measurements of discharge from any de finable drainage could not be made. Grand Canal, which has a capac ity of about 800 cfs, was flowing bankfull below the flood area; however, none of this water reached New River, as it was diverted southward through a lateral toward Roosevelt Canal. (Sec figure 34.)

Another storm cell centered near the upper part of the New River basin. The New River near Black Canyon gaging static n, 25 miles north of the flood area, had a peak discharge of 4,620 cfs at 2400 hours on August 16; however, this peak did not contribute to the flooding in Glendale as it was almost completely dissipated by the time it reached the mouth of the New River. The peak flow in the Agua Fria River just below New River was estimated as 100 cfs.

Estimates of damage (table 25) by the Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District, totaled $2,900,000.

TABLE 25. Estimate of damage from the flood of August 16-17, 196 10 , in Glendaleand Phoenix (Maryvale), Ariz.

[Data furnished by Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District]

Type of property

.Glendale: Residential, ______________ ...... ._ ._Commercial and industrial _ ._..._.__Public.. ........ .Railroad.. .__.... .._...... .......Utilities................................Highways and streets. ._............._.Irrigation works ................ ......Agriculture- ...........................

Subtotal.............................

Phoenix (Maryvale) : Residential. .................. . .

Public-..-.---....... ... .....Railroad-.--...-Utilities.............. . . . . .Highways and streets.......... ......... . .Irrigation works ..._.....Agriculture.........------.----- . . ..

Subtotal. ...... .

Grand total. _ .

IPhysical damage

._-_-._.._____.__._ $87,000_-_.....-...-....._ 138,000

1 000.....-..--.--..... 1,000

................ ...I 133,000

..--.......--.--..- 38,000

........-....._.-.. 398,000

................... 1,910,00024 000

................... 10,0001 000

--..-.-.-._._....- 21,000

................... 92,000

.-.-.-...--.....-.. 124,000

........--..----... 2,207,000

.....-.....--.--... 2.605.000

Smerg-tticy costs and business

losses

$9,00032.000

00

16,000

4,000

6\000

7 0002,000

03,0005,0005,000

12,000

22-' 000

28^,000

Total

$96,000170,000

1,0001,000

149,000

42,000

459,000

2, 100, 00031,00012,0001,000

24,00030, 00097,000

136, 000

2,431,000

2, 890, 000


FLOODS OF AUGUST 16 AND 19 IN PRESCOTT

There were several rainstorms in Prescott during the early part of August, but none of these was of sufficient magnitude to cavse flood ing. Heavy rainfall began with a thunderstorm about noon on Au gust 16. By 1330 hours, this storm had drenched most of the we^, side of Prescott and the surrounding mountains with 3 to 4 inches of rain, according to records collected by several local residents. Tl Q- official U.S. Weather Bureau station at the airport, northeast of town, re ported only 0.16 inch. Similar low readings were reported by residents along the east side of town. In the evening between 1800 and 2000 hours a second storm centered over the same area. Most observers reported between 1 and 2 inches during this second storm, but one reported 3.8 inches.

Between 1830 and 2045 hours on August 19, several residents of the area west of Granite Creek reported over 3 inches of rain; some re ported almost 5 inches. Several persons indicated that the heaviest concentration of rainfall was near Thumb Butte, which rises sharply from the foothills west of town, but there are no rainfall data from that area. The rainfall along the east side of town again v^as much lighter than that to the west.

Much of the area around Prescott consists of exposed granite ridges. These impervious surfaces allow most of the rainfall to rm off as surface water, which concentrates quickly because of the ste^-p valley slopes. The heavy runoff from the August 16 storm filled th^ narrow constricted channels and overflowed onto adjacent residential and business properties. Following the afternoon storm of August 16, Butte and Miller Creeks were out of their banks from 1330 to 1530 1 ours and caused the closing of Miller Valley Road and many streets. Manzanita, Aspen, and Willow Creeks were also flooding. Miller Valley Road was closed again for %y2 hours that evening as a result of a second storm.

The storms of August 16 soaked the ground and filled potholes. Therefore, practically all the rain from the August 19 storm ran off as surface water; the runoff caused the creeks to run much higher than during the previous floods. In some places the streams were several hundred feet wide during the peak, whereas before the floods the chan nels were only 20 or 30 feet wide. Water from Miller and Butte Creeks flowed over Miller Valley Road for 41/9 hours at depths up to 3 feet. Granite Creek ran bankfull through town and flooded several homes below the mouth of Miller Creek. The August 16 flood had widened the channel of Miller Creek just above Butte Creek several feet; the widening allowed the larger discharge of August 19 to pass at approxi mately the same stage as that of August 16. Other creeks were flowing much higher on August 19 than on August 16. On August 19, Manza-


nita Creek flowed over U.S. Highway 89, but it had not done so on August 16.

Peak discharges during the August 19 flood were measured by indirect methods at eight sites and estimated at one. These sites are shown in figure 35, and the discharges are given in table 26. No indirect measurements were made of the floods of August 16 because the August 19 peaks destroyed the flood marks left by the earlier flood.

According to local residents, the storms of August 16 and1 19 were the most severe and intense thunderstorms that they could remember in 30 to 65 years, but several long-time residents said higher floods had occurred as a result of spring snowmelt. The last big flood occurred in 1937, but no accurate comparison of this flood with th°> 1963 flood could be made for the tributaries. At the discontinued gaging station on Granite Creek near Prescott the peak discharge during the 1937 flood had been less than half what it was in 1963. Other high floods occurred in 1891,1916, and 1917 or 1918.

112

34°32 f

EXPLANATION


that, in table 26

2 MILESJ

FIGURE 35. Location of flood-determination points, floods of August 16-19, inPrescott, Ariz.


Even though higher floods may have occurred, none caused as much damage as the floods of August 1963. During the last 20 year?, narrow strips of land between the stream channels and the steep-slopei granite ridges have been developed into urban property; the channels have been constricted; and sewerlines and waterlines have been placed in the creekbed. Several homes and business establishments were damaged by the flood, and considerable personal property was destroyed.

TABLE 26. Flood stages and discharges in the Gila River basin during flood of August 19 in Prescott, Ariz.

Maximum floods

No.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

Drain- Prior to Stream and place age August 1963

(sq mi) Period Year

Granite Creek above Manzanita

Manzanita Creek at mouth at Prescott-.---.--.---....-.--..- 2.20 ._--_--.._.._--.

Aspen Creek J£ mile above

Granite Creek at Goodwin

Miller Creek 3 miles above mouth and \Yi miles west of

Miller Creek 1 mile above mouth

Miller Creek above Butte Creek

Butte Creek % mile above

Granite Creek 1V£ miles north-

ugust 1963

19 ..

19 -.

19 -.

19 ..

19 -.

19 -.

19 -.

19 -.

19

Discharge

height Recur- (feet) C:'s rence

interval (yrs)

...___.- 30 (i)

...._.-.. 1,280 (i)

.._._-.._ 1.160 (i)

......... 2,750 (i)

......... 1.310 0)

.__.__.-. 1.580 (i)

_.__._. 2,960 (i)

..__-_. 1,830 (>)

9.20 2,900 _--..___-.12. 4 6, 660 50

>Not determined.

The floods washed out several road crossings, about 2 miles of sewerline, and an unknown amount of water line, they dislodged man holes and damaged or plugged another 12 miles of sewerline. Three smaller floods between August 21 and August 30 caused additional damage, but separate damage figures for the various floods are not available. The total estimate of damage (table 27) by the Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District, was $546,000.

More detailed information on this flood can be found in a U.S. Geological Survey open-file report by B. N. Aldridge (1963).


TABLE 27. Estimates of damage resulting from the floods of August 16 and 19 inPrescott, Ariz.

[Data furnished by Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District]

Location and type of property

Miller Creek:

Butte Creek:

Other..............................................Aspen Creek:

Other..--...........-...... ............ .....--Granite Creek:

Other.. --- .-- -- --- ------------

Total. .. -. ...... .... . .

Emergency Physical costs and damage business

losses '

............. $95,700---.-----.._. 10,300............. 10,500

.-.-._._..-_. 17,200--..- 900

--.. .-. 27,600..---_......_ 400

............. 19,200

............. 14,500

......-.._... 500

_ ..... 196,800

--. -.. 35,000..._....._-.- 245,000............. 800-....----.--- 1,000... ......... 1,500.__. -- 3,500............. 3,200

............. 486,800

$14 300 1,400

0

2,600 0

4 200 0

2,900 0 0

25,400

6,000 25,000

400 200 200 500 800 600

59,100

Total

$110, 000 11,700 10,500

19,800 900

31,800 400

22, 100 14,500

500

222,200

41, 000 270, 000

1,200 1,200 1,700 4,000 4,000

600

545,900

i No detailed analysis was made of business losses. The estimates included herein are based on observa tions in other areas.

FLOOD OF AUGUST 22 NEAR PAYSON

Between 0030 hours and 0630 hours on August 22, a storm centered over the upper portion of Eye Creek, south of Payson, dropped 3 to 4 inches of rain over an area that is about 15 miles in diameter. Amounts of rainfall at several gages in the area are shown in figure 36; however, none of these gages is in the area of most intense rain, which was apparently on the ridge between Rye Creek and East Verde River. The owner of the H Bar Ranch indicated that the rain appeared to be much heavier on the ridge than at the ranch.

This was the highest flood at the H Bar in the 51 years that it has been in existence. There is no comparative information at other sites except at Tonto Creek above Gun Creek near Roosevelt (station 5) where the peak was the sixth highest since records begr.n in 1941.

Except for Payson, most of the flood area is underdeveloped, and damage was fairly light. The only major damage occurred along Rye Creek which washed out 60 feet of a bridge on State Highway 87 and cut a large channel through the H Bar Ranch. Damage at the ranch was confined to loss of soil and fences. Payson was isolated for about 2 hours as all roads into town were blocked by slides or washouts, but these roads were quickly repaired.


Peak discharge at the flood-determination points (fig. 36) are given in table 28.

111°30'

34°10'

X3.4

Point of rainfall measurement and amount, in inches

FIGURE 36. Location of flood-determination points and rainfall-data sites, floods of August 22, near Payson, Ariz.


TABLE 28. Flood stages and discharges in the Gila River basin drying flood of August 22 near Pay son, Ariz.

Maximum floods

No.

1

2

3

4 5

6

7

Drainage Prior to August Stream and place of deter- area 1963

Period Year

Boone Moore Wash at State Highway 87, 9 miles south

State Highway 87, 9 miles

Gold Creek near Payson...--.. 6.52 ..................Tonto Creek above Gun 675 1940-63 1952 .

East Verde River near Childs.. 317 1961-63 1961 .

August 1963

22

22 .22

22

22

22

22

Gage

(feet)

7.75 16.55 11.90 6.64

15.5 6.87 16.0

Discharge

Cfs

14,300

1,240 355

1,370 45,400 19,700 1,640 9,950 1,340

11,400

Recur rence

interval (yr)

50

P)

9

12

12

i From information furnished by local resident. z Not determined.

FLOODS OF AUGUST 20 IN FOURMILE BUN, FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA.

By DANIEL G. ANDERSON

The August 20 flood in Fourmile Run was by far the most severe of any recorded at the U.S. Geological Survey gaging station since it was established in 1951. Urbanization effects very likely contributed to the severity of this flood. Fourmile Eun is located a few mile? southwest of Washington, D.C., and has a drainage area of 14.4 sq mi at the U.S. Geological Survey gaging station.

Heavy rain fell in the metropolitan Washington, D.C., area during the late evening of August 19 and early morning of August 20. More than 3 inches of rain fell over the central part of Washington, and the amount decreased outward from this area of heavy rainfall. Although -a rather large amount of rain fell, flooding wp£ of little consequence. Although the storm was more or less independent of a second storm during the evening of August 20, as evidenced by the clear skies during the day between the storms, the rainfall of August 19 probably did much to soak the ground and augment flooding from the high-intensity storm during the evening of August 20.

The second storm began about 1850 hours and ended about 2200 hours Eastern Standard Time. The most intense rainfall occurred between 1900 and 2000 hours when 2.5 inches of rainfall was recorded at the U.S. Geological Survey gaging station on Fourmile Run. The


U.S. Weather Bureau* stated that an average of 3.1 inches of rain fell over the drainage basin. The total runoff computed by U.S. Geological Survey was 2.23 inches for a runoff-rainfall ratio of 72 percent. This unusually high ratio probably is the result of wet antecedent soil con ditions, very high intensity rainfall, and the effects of urbanization. The U.S. Weather Bureau* has described the second stonr in great detail, and the discussion generally will not be repeated here. Figure 37 was prepared from their isohyetal map. They reported a maximum 1-hour rainfall of 4.82 inches at First and O Streets, SE., Ws shington, D.C., which is greater than any previously recorded for that, duration at the official U.S. Weather Bureau gage at 24th and M Stroets, NW.

The peak discharge in Fourmile Run at the gaging station A^as 11,700 cfs. This is about three times the magnitude of the previous maximum (3,600 cfs, Aug. 26,1961) since the establishment of the station in 1951. Another significant peak-discharge measurement (2,690 cfs from 2.06

77°07'30"

Boundary of Fourmile Run drainage basin 3.5


FIGUEE 37. Isohyets for 1200 e.s.t. August 20 to 1200 e.s.t. August 21. Most of the rain fell in 3 hours. Floods of August 20 in Fourmile Run, Fairfax County, Va. Precipitation data from U.S. Weather Bureau.

1 U.S. Weather Bureau, 1964, The intense rainstorm of August 19-21, 19°3, at Wash ington, D.C. : Ms. of U.S. Weather Bur., April 1964.

BIOS FLOODS OF 1963 IN THE UNITED STATES

sq mi) for August 20 was made near the mouth of Long Branch at Shirley Highway. Long Branch is a tributary to Fourmile Run that drains an area to the north of Arlandria.

The greatest damage from Fourmile Run occurred in Arlandria, a northern section of Alexandria adjacent to Arlington County. Water was 4 to 5 feet deep just south of Fourmile Run on Mount Vernon Avenue. The flooded area extended about four blocks between Four- mile Run and Glebe Road and inundated about eight blocks contain ing 19 apartment buildings (about 100 apartments were flooded), 31 business establishments, and eight houses. Also damaged were several duplexes and about 500 automobiles. One motorist drownei in Long Branch. The U.S. Weather Bureau estimated that damage f~om Four- mile Run was $1.2 million in Arlandria, which was declared a disaster area.

Several other areas also suffered inconveniences and damage. Traf fic was halted or slowed in many places. National Airport was closed for 3 hours. There were numerous problems, serious to the individuals concerned, such as water in basements and collapse of retaining walls and sidewalks.

The gaging-station records for Fourmile Run indicate some rather significant changes in runoff pattern since the installation of the U.S. Geological Survey gage in 1951. The lag time (time lapse from centroid of precipitation excess to the centroid of runoff) was com puted as 2.6 hours from records prior to 1955, while the lag time was computed as 1.3 hours from records after 1961. Thus, wate** drained from the basin in about half the time in 1963 as compared to the early 1950's. Likewise, a partial-duration flood-frequency analysis for rec ords prior to 1960 indicates the mean annual flood to be aJhout 1,500 cfs while a similar analysis for records subsequent to 1961 indicates the mean annual flood to be about 3,000 cfs. By definition, the mean annual flood is expected to be equaled or exceeded on the average of once every 2.33 years. No periodicity is implied.

It appears that the increased urbanization in the Fourmile Run drainage basin during the past 20 years has had much to do with the foregoing changes in streamflow parameters. The constructior of paved areas has tended to reduce infiltration, and the grading of land and construction of drainageways (ditches, gutters, and sewere) has re moved storage and has accelerated runoff. This is in evidence by the 72- percent runoff for August 20 and the 1.3-hour lag time. The maximum rainfall intensity-duration combination on August 20 was coincident with the lag time, and, when combined with the large depth of rainfall, the stage was set for a severe flood in Fourmile Run. That more rain fell in the downstream area of Fourmile Run than in the upstream


area (fig. 37) tended to make the flood greater than that expected from the average rainfall depth in the basin.

The recurrence interval of the August 20 flood peak probably is slightly less than 100 years, under the present condition of urbani zation. Increased basin imperviousness and reduced channel storage may tend to further increase the flood peak magnitudes.

Many other nearby streams flooded their banks but caused only minor damage. The drainage basins of those streams either received less rainfall, as indicated in figure 37, or their drainageways could more readily handle the discharge.

FLOODS OF SEPTEMBER 17 IN SOUTHWESTERN ARIZONA

By B. X. ALDBIDGE

The storm which struck Yuma, Ariz., on the evening of September 17 was the worst in 24 years. During this storm, rainfall aronnd Yuma ranged from 1.9 to 3.4 inches. The U.S. Weather Bureau gag^ at Yuma recorded 2.04 inches in 1 hour, which is the highest intensity ever recorded at that station. Total rainfall during this storm was nearly equal to the yearly average for the area.

The storm covered most of southern California and western Arizona. Nearly every precipitation station in the south coastal basins and southeast desert basins of California and in Yuma County, Ariz., recorded at least an inch of rain. Amounts of recorded precipitation in Yuma County are shown in figure 38, but rain gages are sparse and greater amounts of rainfall may have occurred in parts of the county. Most of the damage from the resulting floods occurred in a strip along the Colorado River from Blythe, Calif., to Yuma, Ariz. Some crops in the Imperial Valley of California were damaged directly by the storm.

In Yuma a few streets were damaged as water rushed toward low areas where it was ponded to depths of 3 or 4 feet, and lar{re amounts of silt were deposited in homes, businesses, and automobiles The water was pumped from the area after it had stood for a day. About 30 families were evacuated. All highways out of Yuma, including U.S. Highway 80 and U.S. Highway 95, were blocked temporarily by floods and slides.

Highways and county roads in a narrow strip along the western edge of Arizona were damaged in several spots, but no major damage occurred at any one place.

In the Gila Valley, cotton and alfalfa crops were flooded to depths of 4 feet by the Gila River. Some of the water that flooded this area came from the Gila Drain Canal, which burst its levees and allowed water to flow into the old river bed.

B110

34 c

33'


114°

EXPLANATION


that in table 29

X1.7Point of rainfall measurement

and amount, in inches

FIGURE 38. Location of flood-determination points and rainfall-data sites, floods of September 17, in southwestern Arizona.

Estimates by various agencies of the damage total about $200,000. The total could have been higher as there is no satisfactory record of damage to individual homes and personal property.

Most of the area between the Colorado River and a line through the Gila, Castle Dome, Kofa, and Harcuvar Mountains had fairly heavy runoff. Table 29 gives peak stages and discharges at flood-determina tion sites shown in figure 38. The peak flows in Tyson Wrsh and in Bouse Wash were considered too small to warrant a mersurement. The peak in each of these washes was estimated as 4,500 cfs at U.S. Highway 60.

SUMMARY OF FLOODS Bill

TABLE 29. Flood stages and discharges, September 17, in southwestern Arizona

Maximum floods Drainage

No. Stream and place of determination area Prior to Gage Discharge(sq mi) September 1963 Septem- height

Period Yearber 1963 (fee*,) Cfs

Tyson Wash basin

1 Tyson Wash tributary near Quartzsite. 13.7 .-...-.-.-_...-_ 17 2.54 5542 French Creek 4^ miles south of Quartz-

site....-.....---.-..-...-.......- 61.5 . -_---_ 17 ...- 1,810

Indian Wash basin

3 Indian Wash 30 miles south of Quartz- site..-.. _____ ____.-.... _ 1.41 .................. 17 .......... 450

4 Indian Wash tributary near Yuma..... 2.4 .........__..... 17 4 44 72

Gila River basin

56

7

57,850

23.

78

3

1903-631929-63

1916 ...1932 ...

17

1717 ...

6.81

I 1}. 8

1,5902 200,000

20,7003 4, 820

6,430

1 Not determined.2 Daily discharge.' From drainage area of probably less than 200 sq mi.

The peak flow of Gila River near Dome (station 6; drairage area, 57,850 sq. mi.) 4,820 cfs, is minimal when compared with previous floods that have occurred on this river, but when compared with other summer floods and with floods that have occurred since corstruction of several major dams, it becomes much more significant. The dis charge during this flood was the highest that has occurred since 1941 and the highest to occur in any summer during the period of con tinuous record which began in 1929. Higher summer floods occurred prior to 1929, but these originated at least in part in the lar.ire water shed above Gillespie Dam (drainage area, 49,650 sq mi) ; but the 1963 flood originated entirely in the lower reaches of the river and mainly in the Castle Dome Wash area. There was no flow past the gaging station on the Gila River below Painted Rock Dam (drain age area, 50,910 sq mi) during the September 17 flood.

FLOODS OF SEPTEMBER 17-19 IN SOUTHEASTERN TPXAS

At 0900 hours on September 16, a low pressure center was observed about 275 miles south of Galveston. This low pressure system de veloped rapidly into Hurricane Cindy and entered the Texas coast between Galveston and Port Arthur at 0700 hours on September 17.

Hurricane Cindy caused no deaths or injuries, and only minor property damage can be attributed to wind or tide. However, flood

309-939 O - 69 - 9


waters entered nearly 4,000 homes, and total property damage was estimated at $11.6 million. Agricultural losses were relatively low, about $500,000, because more than 80 percent of the ric"> crop had been harvested when the hurricane struck.

The torrential rainfall ranged from about 15 to 20 inches for a 3-day period on about 1,500 sq mi in the downstream reaches of the Sabine and the Neches Rivers, with a maximum of 23.5 inches at Deweyville. The 24-hour total at Deweyville was 20.60 inches. The rarity of the storm is indicated by the fact that the 100-year 3-day rainfall in the area is about 16 inches (U.S. Weather Bureau, 1964), and the 100-year 24-hour rainfall is about 13 inches (U.S. Weather Bureau, 1961). Point-rainfall totals for the period September 17-19 are shown in figure 39.

Maximum peak discharge for the year occurred at all stream-gaging stations in the flood area, and four stations recorded peak discharges for the period of record (table 30). The stream-gaging station, Hille- brandt Bayou near Lovell Lake (station 5), recorded a peak discharge about 1.3 times the 50-year flood.

TABLE 30. Flood stages and discharges, September 17-22, in southeastern Texas

Maximum floods

No. Stream and place of Drainage determination area

(sq mi)

Prior to September 1963 Septem- Gage

Period Year (feet)

Discharge

Recur- Cfs rence

interval (yrs)

Sabine River basin

1 Cypress Creek near Buna_.. 69.2 1952-63 1955

2 Cow Bayou near Mauriceville - 83.3 1940^63 195842

11.95 3,80018 13.28 7,100 _ ' 16.71 4,300 -_.. -19 18.15 4,600 7

Nechea River basin

341924-27,

1939-63 1940 ... .... ... 27.618 14. 19 4,630 <2

Taylor Bayou basin

4 Taylor Bayou near Labelle.-.- 262 1941-63 1961

6 Hillebrandt Bayou near Lovell Lake.....-----.

.... '11.51 20 111.78 22 ..........

37,560 ~~9~ 590"

128 1941-63 1961 .... '11.56 39,100 ..........18 --------- 15,000 « 1.3219 12.34 ......-_..-. .

1 Affected by backwater.2 Not determined.3 Occurred on different date than maximum stage.4 Ratio of peak discharge to 50-year flood.


X14.64

Point of rainfall measurement and amount,in inches, Sep tember 17-19

FIGURE 39. Location of flood-determination points and rainfall-data sites, floods of September 17-19, in southeastern Texas.

FLOODS OF SEPTEMBEB 23 IN SOUTHEASTEBN WASHINGTON

A severe thunderstorm on September 23 in the eastern half of Whit man County in southeastern Washington (fig. 40) produced unusually high rates of runoff from small drainage areas on three streams near


Colfax. U.S. Weather Bureau records for the station at Coif ax showed precipitation of 0.70 inch on September 23. Local residents stated that the storm lasted less than 15 minutes and because of this short dura tion the extreme runoff and damage was limited to small drainage areas. A few small culverts were washed out, but the major damage was due to soil erosion and crop washout.

118°

47'

Number corresponds to that in table 31

FIGURE 40. Location of flood-determination points, floods of September 23, in southeastern Washington.


Three measurements of peak discharge were made. A summary of peak stages and discharges is given in table 31. The drainage areas at the sites are 3.30 sq mi or smaller. There was no significant rke in stage on the larger streams in that area, but the recurrence intervals for the floods at the three listed sites are 40 years or greater.

TABLE 31. Flood stages and discharges in the Penewawa Creek basin, September 23, in southeastern Washington

Maximum floods


2 Palouse River tributary at Col-

3 Pine Creek tributary near

Prior to Drainage September 23

(sq mi) ber 1963 Period Year

3.30 - ____ - 23 _

2.10 1955-63 1963 ..........--._ ..-_. 23

3.12 _..--._.________ 23 _

Discharge

height (feet)

21.82 22.12

C's

178

180 183

1,110

Recur rence In terval (yr)

11.06

40

12.58

i Ratio of peak discharge to 50-year flood.

REFERENCES CITED

Aldridge, B. N., 1963, Floods of August 1963 in Prescott, Arizona: U.S. Geol. Survey open-file rept., 12 p.

Barnes, H. H., Jr., 1964, Floods of March 1963. Alabama to West Virginia: U.S. Geol. Survey open-file rept., 44 p.

Corbett, D. M., and others, 1943, Stream-gaging procedure, a manual describing methods and practices of the Geological Survey: U.S. Geol. Survey Water- Supply Paper 888, 245 p.

Cross, W. P., 1964, Floods of March 1963 in Ohio and the flash flood of June 1963 in the vicinity of Cambridge: Ohio Div. Water Bull. 38, 82 p.

Dalrymple, Tate, and others, 1937, Major Texas floods of 1936: U.S. Geol. Survey Water-Supply Paper 816, 146 p.

1939, Major Texas floods of 1935: U.S. Geol. Survey Water-Supply Paper 796-G, p. 223-290.

Gilstrap, R. C., and Christensen, R. C., 1964, Floods of July 16-17,1963, in vicinity of Hot Springs, Arkansas: U.S. Geol. Survey open-file rept., 9 p.

Johnson, Hollister, 1936, The New York State flood of July 1935: U.S. Geol. Sur vey Water-Supply Paper 773-E, p. 233-268.

Rostvedt, J. O., 1965, Summary of floods in the United States during 1960: U.S. Geol. Survey Water-Supply Paper 1790-B, 147 p.

Tennessee Valley Authority, 1963, Precipitation in Tennessee River ba sin: Tenn. Valley Authority Rept. 0-243-342, p. 2-12.

1964, Floods of March 1963 in Tennessee River basin: Tenn. Valley Au thority Rept. 0-6425, v. 1, 121 p.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District, 1963, Report of flood, 7 August 1963 on Scajaquada Creek at Buffalo, N.Y.: 22 p.


U.S. Weather Bureau, 1961, Rainfall frequency atlas of the Unitec1 States: U.S. Weather Bur. Tech. Paper 40, 115 p.

1962, Rainfall frequency atlas of the United States: U.S. Weather Bur. Tech. Paper 43, 60 p.

1964, Two to ten-day precipitation for return periods of 2 to 100 years in the contiguous United States: U.S. Weather Bur. Tech. Paper 49, 29 p.

1965, Climatological data, national summary, annual 1964: U.S. WeatherBur., v. 15 no. 13. 99 p.

Vaudrey, Walter C., 1963, Floods of March-May 1963 in Hawaii: U.S. Geol. Sur vey open-file rept, 65 p.

Young, L. E., and Harris, E. E., 1966, Floods of January-February 1963 in Cali fornia and Nevada: U.S. Geol. Survey Water-Supply Pape" 1830-A, p. A1-A472.

INDEX

[Italic page numbers indicate major references]

Adel, Dreg....--------------------------.--.-Africa, Ohio.. -___________-------_--_.--._____Agency Valley Reservoir, Oreg- ______________Alabama, floods of March ..................Albert Lake basin, Oregon. ..................Albuquerque, New Mexico, floods of August

10................................Alder Creek basin, Washington. ..............Alexandria, Va------...---.. -.-..---.......-.Alpowa Creek basin, Washington..-. ___....._Alum Fork, Ark.. ........_...____.____..__.__American River basin, California _ .........Anatone, Wash._. _________ ...................Apalachicola River basin, Georgia. ___________Arizona, central, floods of August 14-22. ......

Payson, flood of August 22..... ...........Prescott, floods of August 16 and 19.......southwestern, floods of September 17 . . . . .

Arlandria, Va. ...............................Asotin Creek basin, Washington. .............Athens, Ala. .................................

Ohio.----....-.-.-...-......-............Auburn, Calif.. ....-.-...-.-....--...........

B17 51 17

18,5578

23, 57108S687

6215298

104101109108SS5551

6

B Bainbridge, Ohio-.-.-...---........ ......... 51Baker, Oreg..... ............................. 17,19Bancroft, Idaho .............................. 15Bannock Creek basin, Idaho.. ......... ...... ItBarbourville, Ky..__. ........................ 50Bear River basin, Idaho..... ................. g,llBeaver Creek basin, Kentucky ......_._.__.__ 49Benton, Ark..... ........ ....._......_..__..__ 88Big Sandy River basin, Kentucky _ ......... 55,49

Virginia.................................. 55West Virginia.... ._...__.._............... 55,52

Big Wood River basin, Idaho _ .............. ISBlackfoot River basin, Idaho.. ............... 11Blakely Mountain Dam, Ark................. 87Blythe, Calif.... ............................. 109Boise River basin, Idaho. .........._._....._. 14Bowling Green, Ind..... ..................... 57Branchland, W. Va.. ......................... 52Bremen, Ohio. ...... -....--........_......... 51Bruneau River basin, Idaho.... .............. IS, 75

Nevada. ................................. 75Bully Creek Reservoir, Oreg ................. 19Burns, Oreg. ................................. 17Burnt River basin, Oregon.. ................. 16,19

C

Cagle Mill Reservoir, Ind. Cairo, 111.................

PageC alifornla, floods of January-February _.-..-. 6 C ambridge, Ohio, floods of June 4-6. ......... 69Captina Creek basin, Ohio.. ----------------- 52Carpenter Dam, Ark... ...................... 87Carson River basin, California. .............. 6Cataract, Indiana.. -------------------------- 57Chase, Ala. ..................-...-.--...----- 55Chattanooga, Tenn ........................ 54Cheektowaga, N.Y... ... -....--....-......-.. 93Clover Creek basin, Idaho... ................. ISCoeburn, Va....... ....... .-.-.............-- 55Colfax, Wash............--..---------.---.--- 114Columbus, Ohio __ -------------------------- 51Coshocton, Ohio ......------......-.-..--- 51Crab Creek basin, Washington. .............. 23, 24Craters of the Moon National Monument,

Idaho................-..-.------- 9Crooked Creek basin, Ohio................... 72Cumberland River basin, Kentucky......... 28,40

Tennessee. ....---..-.........-....--....- !f>

D Damage, Alabama _ ........................ 56, 91

Arizona,, central.. ............----.----... 98Glendale-Maryvale area. ..--.--.--... 100 Payson...-.-.......--...--.---.-----. 104Prescott-------..--..--------------- 103,704southwestern. ........................ 109

Arkansas. -...----....-........-..-----... 90Big Sandy River basin. .................. 56California. -_.......----------.---------.- 6Cumberland River basin. ................ 56Great Miami and Little Miami Rivers

basins ............................ 56Guyandotte River basin. ................ 56Hawaii-.-.-.-------.--------------------- 63,67

-------- 9---... . 16 ........ 56-....... 56-...---- 4----.--- 79.--.--.. 6 ......_. 97

New York.. ........................... 87,92,93North Carolina _ ........................ 55Ohio....................-----..-.----. 51,56,70

Idaho..---------.---..---.-southern _ ...-_-..---.

Kentucky..................Kentucky River basin.....-national. ..----.------------Nebraska......-.......-----Nevada .....--.............New Mexico, Albuquerque .

Ohio River basin.............Oregon, Malheur River basin.

Palouse River basin.Powder River basin......Scioto River basin_.....

...... 56

...... 19

...... 25

...... 19

...... 56Tennessee. ------------------------------ 54,56Texas, southeastern.....-------..--.----. 112

B117

B118 INDEX

Damage Continued Page Utah..................................... 86Virginia, Fairfax County__..___.._ 108

Ohio River basin..................... 56southwestern......................... 55

Washington, southeastern..___._... 114 West Virginia............................. 52,56Wyoming ..........______........ 84

Data, explanation............................ 5David City, Nebr............................ 76Deadman Creek basin, Washington_........ 23, S6Deer Creek Reservoir, Utah__............. 21Delaware Dam, Ohio......................... 51Discharge, Hartselle, Ala........_.....__ 91

San Jose, N. Mex...._.........__..... 69Dome, Ariz __.................__.... IllDresden, Ohio__........................_ 51Dry Creek basin, Washington_...__...... SBDuchesne, Utah_........................... 85

E El Rito, N. Mex.............................. 69Embudo Reservoir, N. Mex.................. 96Esquatzel Coulee basin, Washington_....... 23,85

Farley, Ala_.........................__... 56Fatality, Sheridan, Wyo...................... 84Fayetteville, Tenn.....^__.._.....___ 53Feather River basin, California..___....... 6Flint River basin, Alabama.................. 55Flood, definition............................. £Fossil Creek basin, Idaho..................... IS

G Galveston, Tex_.__..__....___.._ 111Geist Reservoir, Ind......................... 57Georgiar floods of March..................._ 56Giant of the Valley Mountain, N. Y.......... 86Gila River basin, Arizona.............. 108,106,111Gillespie Dam, Ariz.......................... IllGlade Creek basin, Washington....-...-----. 27Glendale, Ariz__--.---------.-----..-.----- 98Glendale-Maryvale area, Arizona, floods of

August 16-17..................... 99Glove, Ariz................................... 98Gooding, Idaho......................_..... 15Great Miami River basin, Ohio............... S8, 51Green River basin, Utah......_...__.... 85GreybuU, Wyo............................... 84Grundy.Va...-.-.--.-.-..-.................. 54Guyandotte River basin, West Virginia__.. S4, 52

HHana, Maui, Hawaii. .....................Hanahuli, Maui, Hawaii_.................Hanna, Utah................__...........Harlan, Ky.__....__..........._......Hartselle, Ala., flood of July 23.............Hawk Creek basin, Washington.............. 84Haysi,Va._.................._._.._.._._ 54Henrys Fork basin, Idaho.__. _.. . 10, 11 Herman, Nebr......_... ................. 75Hocking River basin, Ohio............._... 55,51Hogan Creek basin, Indiana.................. 58Hooper, Wash............................. 23

PageHot Spring, Idaho............................ 73Hot Springs, Ark., floods of July H-17 ~ 87 Hurricane Cindy...........___............ Ill

Ice jams...................................... 10,19Idaho, southern, floods of January-February. 8

southwestern, floods of June.............. 75Indiana, southern, floods of March 4-7..-.-.-. 56Indianapolis, Ind_.......................... 56Indian Wash basin, Arizona......-.......---. IllIntroduction-..-.--.-.-.-------------.-...--. /

Juntura, Oreg. 17

Kanawha River basin, North Carolina.___ S4West Virginia.......-----.---- ......... S4

Kansas River basin, Nebraska............... 78Kentucky, floods of March ................ 49Kentucky River basin, Kentucky............ S9Kermit, W. Va--~-.~--~~--~-~ ~~ 52King Hill Creek basin, Idaho...----.....----. ISKnoxville, Tenn_.----.....-----.---------.- 54

Lake Catherine, Ark......................... 89Lake Hamilton, Ark...................------ 89Lake Ouachita, Ark.......................... 88Lakeview, Oreg..._.......... .......... 17,20Lancaster, N.Y.............................. 93Lander, Wyo_.............................. 84Lava Hot Springs, Idaho.......... ...... 15Lewiston, Idaho...--------------------------- 15Licking River basin, Kentucky.............. 58,50Linwood, Nebr --------------------------- 79Little Canyon Creek basin, Idaho. ----------- ISLittle Kanawha River basin, West Virginia... 55Little Miami River basin, Ohio............... 58Little Muskingum River basin, Ohio......... 55Little Sandy River basin, Kentucky......... 56,50Location of flood areas........................ 5Logan, W. Va... - - ------- 52Londonderry, Ohio __ - . 51Louisville, Ky._....-----...-.-------------- 50Loveland, Ohio. -- ---- -- --- - 51

MMcConnelsville, Ohio ............--...----.- 51Madison, Ala----.----------- ---- --------- 56Magic Dam, Idaho--------.----- ----- -- 15Malad City, Idaho _...... - .. .-- 9Malheur and Harney Lakes basin Oregon.... /8Malheur River basin, Oregon.............. 16, 18, 20Malheur River valley, Oregon...... .. 20Malmo, Nebr...... - -- -- - --- ------ 78Malvern, Ark........... .--.------ ------- 88Marshall, N.C . -- - - --- 55Maryvale, Ariz............. ... ....------ 99Maryville, Tenn....... ... ..... 53Mesa-Apache Junction area, New Mexico..... 98Meta, Ky .......... -..---- ---------- 49Miami River basin, Indiana....... . 58

INDEX B119Page

Middle Island Creek basin, West Virginia..... SiMilford, Ohio................................. 51Millersville, Ind...___________________________ 57Mobile River basin, Georgia_............... siMorrow, Ohio................................ 51Mountain Pine, Ark_......__....._..... 90Muskingum River basin, Ohio.....-.-..-.. SS,50,7i

N

Nebraska, floods of June. ...._........... 75Neches River basin, Texas.........._.__ HiNevada, floods of January-February......... 6

northeastern, floods of June_........... 73Newark, Ohio........................_..... 50New York, Buffalo, floods of August 7........ 9gNoble, Ky.................................... 49North Carolina, floods of March_... __.... 55North Vernon, Ind-....._..._..._..... 56

O

Ohio, floods of March......................... t8,SOOhio Brush Creek basin, Ohio........_..... S7Ohio River main stem, West Virginia__..... Si, 36Olive Hill, Ky................................ 49Oregon, eastern, floods of January 31-Febru-

ary 5_............__..._____ 16Owyhee Reservoir, Oreg.................._. 19Owyhee River basin, Nevada................ 75

Oregon............................. 14, 16,75,20

Painted Rock Dam, Ariz..................... IllPaint Rock River basin, Alabama___...... 55Palouse River basin, Washington............. 23, 26Payette River basin, Idaho................... 14Payson, Ariz................................. 104Pecos River basin, New Mexico...-.------.-. 68Penewawa Creek basin, Washington_....... 116Phoenix, Ariz...___________.._...__.... 99Pineville, Ky................................. 49Pittsburgh, Pa............................... 50Platte River basin, Nebraska___.......... 75Pocatello, Idaho.............................. 15Port Arthur, Tex............................. ///Portneuf River basin, Idaho_.............. 11,15Powder River basin, Oregon. .......... __. 16, 19Precipitation, Alabama_....._........._ 55,91

Arizona, Qlendale-Maryvale area......... 99Payson............................... 104Prescott..-........................... 101southwestern. --------.-.-..--....-.-. 109

Arkansas, Hot Springs..__-....-.__ 87,55California-................___....__. 6Hawaii.................................. 60Indiana............_........___..... 56Nevada.............................._. 6New Mexico.--------.----.--._....----- 95New York................................ 86,92Ohiq. __._...____._..____.__._______.___.. 50Oregon................................... 17Tennessee...._.___.____..._.. 53Texas, southeastern__.................. 112Utah.........................._..__. 21

Precipitation ContinuedVirginia, Fairfax County__...-.-.-.--.. 106 Washington............................... 21Wyoming__..-............. ........... 80

Prescott, Ariz.-.-.......--.-.---........... 98,101

R

Racoon Creek basin, Ohio....._............ S4Raft Riverbasin, Idaho... ---------_.... ItRainfall, Albuquerque, N. Mex............... 96Red River basin, Arkansas_.....--...-.._ 90Remmel Dam, Ark__.........__._.... 87Ribera, N. Mex. ..-....-.... ......... 68Richland, Wash.---------.------.-.------ 23Rock Creek basin, Idaho....------.--..--.-.. li

Washington .---.------------..------- 23,27Roosevelt, Ariz__ . .. . .......... 104

Wash... -. -- 21,23Rosalia, Wash................................ 21Rousseau Hollow, Ala .... ... ... 55

Sabine Riverbasin, Texas . . .. HiSt. Huberts, N. Y., floods of June 29... _ ... 86Saltville, Va .. 54San Isidro. N. Mex.._. .. - .. . 68San Jose, N. Mex., floods of June 1_. _. _ 68Schnebly Coulee basin, Washington.. .... i4Scioto Riverbasin, Ohio... .. -------- 36Seneca Fork, Ohio___.. - - - 72Senecaville Dam, Ohio . ... 72Sequatchie, Term.. . 53SevierviUe, Tenn..---....-------------- 63Sheridan, Wyo --- 84Sierra Nevada River basins, California....... 6Sinker Creek basin, Idaho ... ........ ISSnake River main stem, Idaho...- ..... .. ISSnake River Plain, Idaho..-- -------------- 9Soham, N. Mex. ------------------------- 68Spalding, Idaho--. ------------------------- 15Speers Ferry, Va ................... 55Spokane, Wash......--.-.- -----.... - 21Spokane River basin, Washington. .. .. HSpringfield, Ohio.-.. -- ---------- 52Spring Valley, Ohio .- - -- -- 51Squaw Creek basin, Idaho - - ... 14 Stages and discharges, Alabama to West

Virginia and Ohio.-.---------- SiArizona, Payson. - - . .... 106

Prescott . 10Ssouthwestern... . ....... . Ill

Arkansas, Hot Springs...... 90determination.-.----.-------------------- 4Hawaii, Kauai__-.-- ..._... 6S,65

Maui. - - 6SOahu_ 63,65,67

Idaho, southern.....--- ... 11southwestern__.... .-...-... ... 75

Indiana, southern_.... .... ... 58Nebraska, east-central... . 78Nevada, northeastern .. . .... 75New Mexico, Albuquerque.... 98New York, Giant of the Valley Mountain. 87Ohio, Cambridge._..... ..... 7i

B120 INDEX

Stages and discharges Continued Page Oregon, eastern...____......_.._ 18Texas, southeastern...................... HiUtah..................................... 85Washington, southeastern__.._..... $4,115Wyoming, north-central........._...... 81

Stanislaus River basin, C alifornia. ........... 6Sucker Creek basin, Idaho___............. 14

Tabiona, Utah.._....._.................. 85Taylor Bayou basin, Texas....._........... lieTazewell, Tenn.........._.................. 53Tekamah Creek basin, Nebraska. ------- _.. 75,78Tennessee, floods of March_................. 58Tennessee River basin, Alabama---...-...... 4$

Georgia_........... ............__ 41North Carolina........_..........__.. 42,55Tennessee.--.----.-.-..-..-.-..-...-_.. JfiVirginia....---...-.....---...--..--...-. 40,54

Tetonia, Idaho.---.-......................... 10Texas, southeastern, floods of September 17-19. Ill Truckee River basin, California.---...--..-.- 6 Tucannon River basin, Washington.......... 23, 86Twelvepole Creek basin, West Virginia....... 35Tygarts Creek basin, Kentucky... _........ 50Tyson Wash basin, Arizona........_.___. Ill

UUhrichsville, Ohio............................ 50Unity Reservoir, Oreg_.....__......... 19Upper Kentucky River basin, Kentucky.__ 50Upper 0 hio River basin, Kentucky.... __.. 28

Ohio....-..------...--...-------....-... 28West Virginia............................. 28

Upper Rock Creek basin, Washington.. _.... _ 21Upper Scioto River basin, 0 hio... -. . 51Upper Tongue River basin, Wyoming........ 81Upper Wind River basin, Wyoming.. __.... 81Urbana, Ohio.--.--.---------.-....----- 52Utah, flood of June 16... ------------------ 84

V Page

Virginia, Fairfax County, floods of August 20. 106floods of March........................... 54

Vivian Park, Utah, floods of Febrrary 1_... £0

W

Wabash River basin, Indiana...... ......... 58Waimanalo, Oahu, Hawaii.................... 60Walla Walla River basin, Washington......... 23,27Walnut, N.C...-.------ ............... 55Wannsprings Reservoir, Oreg. ...... ....- 17Warner Lakes basin, Oregon.... .. . 17,18,20Warner Lakes valley, Oregon......... . ... 17Washington, D.C............................ 106Washington, Ind.--.---.---------------- 56Washington, southeastern, floods of Febru

ary 3-7.. . - tlfloods of September 23...... _ __ US

Weston, Nebr- .- - . 79West Virginia, floods of March.-.. --------- Z8,58Wheeling Creek basin, West Virgin'a ..... 30White River basin, Indiana_......... .. . 56Whitewater River basin, Indiana... ....... 56Whitwell, Tenn.......-..- - - 53Williamsport, Ohio..---....----------- - 51Wills Creek Reservoir, Ohio..------------ 72Winslow, Ariz-. . . - 98Woodville, Ala . - 55Worthington, Ohio.._ ......... ... - 51Wyoming, north-central, floods of June 15-17. 80

Yakima River basin, Washington............ 23,05Yellowstone River basin, Wyoming..-.- 8/ Yuba River basin, California...........- ... 6Yuma, Ariz... ..................... ... . 109

Zanesville, Ohio. 51

o

Floods of 1963 in the United States

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAFER 1830

This volume was published as separate chapters A and B

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

STEWART L. UDALL, Secretary

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

William T. Pecora, Director

Library of Congress catalog-card No. GS 65-319

CONTENTS

[Letters designate the separately published chapters]

(A) Moods of January-February 1963 in California and Nevada, by L. E. Young and E. E. Harris.

(B) Summary of floods in the United States during 1963, by J. O. Rostvedt and others.

Summary of Floods in the United States during 1963 · 2011. 3. 8. · UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF...

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